Yield, Quality and Economics of different Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. Var. Saccharata) Cultivars at different Planting and Harvesting Dates under Shiwalik Foothills of J&K

摘要

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu by extending planting time of crop from March-June during 2013 to study yield attributes, yield, quality and economics of sweet corn (Zea mays L.Var. Saccharata) cultivars 'Misthi', 'Sugar-75' and 'Gold star" under six planting dates (29 March, 15 April, 30 April, 15 May, 30 May and 19 June). Cultivar 'Misthi' recorded higher value of plants/m2, cobs/plant, cob weight (g), fresh cob and stover yield, number of grains/row, number of grains/cob, grain and stover yield except for 1000 grain weight over 'Sugar-75' and 'Gold star1 both at harvest and physiological maturity. Planting on April 15, March 29 and April 30recorded statistically similar but significantly highest fresh cob weight, fresh cob and stover yield, grains/cob, 1000-grain weight, grain and stover yield at harvest maturity, at physiological maturity than the crop sown on 1S*1 May and onwards. Cultivar 'Misthi' recorded higher starch (63.68 %), net returns (Rs. 157068/ha) and B:C ratio 4.45 at harvest, whereas at physiological maturity it registered 66.38 %, Rs. 156702/ha and 4.25 values for starch, net returns and B:C ratio. Planting on April 15 recorded highest net returns (Rs. 166603/ha and 169020/ha) and B: C ratio (4.15 and 4.05) at harvest and physiological maturity, respectively. Forgetting more yield and profit at physiological maturity and harvesting cultivar 'Misthi' should be planted at April 15.