Spring sweet corn (Zea mays) response to irrigation levels, sowing methods and moisture conservation practices

Debarati Datta; Subhash Chandra; Sumit Chaturvedi; Amit Bhatnagar; Gurvinder Singh; Veer Singh

doi:10.56093/ijas.v90i5.104378

Authors

Debarati Datta Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India
Subhash Chandra Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India
Sumit Chaturvedi Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India
Amit Bhatnagar Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India
Gurvinder Singh Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India
Veer Singh Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263 145, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v90i5.104378

Keywords:

Biochar, B, C ratio, Flat sowing, Furrow sowing, IW/CPE, Mulch, Sweet corn

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during spring (February-May) of 2017-18 at GBPUAT, Pantnagar to assess the effect of irrigation levels, sowing methods and moisture conservation practices on soil moisture, crop growth, productivity of spring season sweet corn. The experiment consisted of 3- irrigation levels including irrigation at IW/ CPE ratios of 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 2- sowing methods (flat, furrow) and 3-moisture conservation practices (control, mulch @ 6 t/ha, biochar @ 3 t/ha) laid-out in a split-plot design, assigning combination of irrigation and sowing methods to main-plots and moisture conservation practices to sub-plots. The pooled results revealed that husked cob yield (15.79 t/ha) and biological yield (39.47 t/ha) of sweet corn were highest in IW/CPE 1.4 which were significantly higher than other two IW/CPE ratios. Furrow sowing resulted 8% increase in husked cob yield over flat sowing, while soil biochar application being at par with mulching showed significantly higher (6%) husked cob yield over control. The interaction effect showed that biological yield was at par between irrigation at IW/CPE 1.2 under furrow sowing and IW/CPE 1.4 under flat sowing. B: C ratio was higher with IW/CPE 1.4 (1.57), furrow sowing (1.54) and mulch (1.54). Higher soil moisture content before irrigation at tasseling stage was obtained under IW/CPE 1.4 (16.3%), furrow sowing (6.4%) and mulch (24.9%) as compared to IW/CPE 1.0, flat and control, respectively. Thus, sweet corn in sandy loam soil should be irrigated at IW/CPE 1.4, sown in furrows and supplemented with mulch or biochar application for enhancing productivity and profitability during spring season (February-May).

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