EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PLANT GEOMETRY AND NITROGEN LEVELS, INRELATION TO GROWTH CHARACTERS, YIELD AND ECONOMICS ON SWEET CORN (ZEA MAYS SACHHARATA L.) AT BASTAR PLATEAU ZONE

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2014 at the S G College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh). The soil was sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon (0.48%). available N (185 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (20.9 kg ha-1) and medium in available potassium (186 kg ha-1) with soil reaction (pH 6.8). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design by keeping four plant geometry, viz. G1-(30 x 30 cm), G2-(50 x 30 cm),G3-(30 x 60 cm) and G4-(50 x 50 cm) as a main plot and four nitrogen levels i.e. N1- (50 kg ha-1), N2-(75 kg ha-1), N3-(100 kg ha-1) and N4-(125 kg ha-1) as a sub-plot plot and was replicated three times. Plant population (94415), plant height (169.78 cm) and LAI (5.04) was recorded significantly highest in treatment G1 (30 x 30 cm) followed by G2 (50 x 30 cm). Fresh kernel weight (32.75 g) recorded significantly higher under treatment G4 (50 x 50 cm) among all plant geometry but it was significantly at par with G3 (60 x 30 cm) and minimum weight was gained by G1 (30 x 30 cm). In case of weight of cob with and without cover (246.47g and 216.77 g), and weight of cobs ha-1 (18507 kg ha-1) was recorded significantly highest in treatment G4 (50 x 50 cm). Net income (Rs.172513) was recorded significantly highest in G1 (30 x 30). However, B: C ratio was recorded statistically similar result in all plant geometry but highest value was obtained with G1 (30 x 30 cm).In case of different nitrogen levels, N4 (125 kg N ha-1) was recorded significantly tallest plant height (178 cm), days to 50% flowering (51 DAS), No. of cobs ha-1 (84860) and LAI (5.35). Significantly highest fresh kernel weight (34.51 g), weight of cob with (256.77) and without cover (236.80), weight of cobs ha-1 (21504.28) and number of cobs ha-1 (84860) was recorded under N4 (125 kg ha-1) among all the nitrogen levels. Highest gross income (Rs. 212833), net income (Rs. 175418) and B: C ratio (4.60) was recorded significantly higher in N4 (125 kg ha-1).