Plant Growth Regulators and Split Application of Nitrogen Improves the Quality Parameters and Green Cob Yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.)

摘要

A field experiment was conducted at the Eastern Block farm, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to find out the effect of different plant growth regulators and split application of nitrogen on the productivity and some of the quality parameters of baby corn. The field trial was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Three growth regulating substances namely Mepiquat chloride at the rate of 200 ppm, NAA at the rate of 40 ppm and Putrescine at the rate of 50 ppm along with water spray as control were taken in main plots and four split application of nitrogen treatments (1/2 basal+1/2 at 25 DAS; 1/2 basal+1/2 at 45 DAS; 1/2 basal+1/4 at 25 DAS+1/4 at 45 DAS and 1/4 basal+1/2 at 25 DAS+1/4 at 45 DAS) were taken in sub plots.Higher values of protein content (%) and cob yields (kg ha~(-1)) were registered with Mepiquat chloride at the rate of 200 ppm and these were comparable with NAA at the rate of 40 ppm. With respect to split N application, higher values of starch (%), protein (%) and green cob yields (kg ha~(-1)) were obtained with 1/2 basal+1/4 at 25 DAS+1/4 at 45 DAS. Hence, application of plant growth regulators (Mepiquat chloride at the rate of) 200 ppm or NAA at the rate of 40 ppm) along with supply of N in three splits (1/2 basal+1/4 at 25 DAS+1/4 at DAS) would boost the green cob yield as well as quality parameters of baby corn.