Residual soil fertility and nutrient uptake in baby corn as influenced by nutrient sources and weed control measures

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess
the effect of nutrient sources and weed control measures on nutrient uptake, yield and residual
soil fertility after harvest of baby corn. The highest husked and dehusked baby cob yields (4.43 t
ha–1 and 2.15 t ha–1, respectively) and green fodder yield were obtained with application of N
through vermicompost and the lowest (3.30 and 1.80 t ha–1, respectively) was recorded with the
application of N through fertilizer. Residual fertility in terms of available N, P and K (186.5, 18.0
and 208.2 kg ha–1) in the soil after crop harvest was significantly superior when 120 kg N ha–1 was
applied through FYM in comparison with recommended dose of N applied through fertilizer and
it was at par with leaf compost and vermicompost. In case of weed control measures, the highest
husked and dehusked cob yield (4.29 t ha–1 and 2.18 t ha–1 respectively) and green fodder yields
were found in weed free treatment and the lowest values were obtained from unweeded control
(3.05 t ha–1 and 1.68 t ha–1 respectively). Available N, P, K, bulk density and organic carbon in soil
was not significantly varied due to weed control measures.