PURPLE WAXY CORN (ZEA MAYS VAR. CERATINA KULESH) RESPONSE TO POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTATION FOR MORPHO-YIELD TRAITS AND ANTHOCYANINS

Abstract

The following study aimed to determine the effects of potassium fertilization on the growth and anthocyanin content of purple waxy corn (Zea mays L.). This research proceeded in a split-plot design with factorial arrangements, two factors, and three replications. The first factor comprised four purple waxy corn genotypes designated as main plots, i.e., two cultivars (Pulut URI and Srikandi Ungu) and two strains [1-3-1-2-B-II-(C4)-II, and 162.1-1-II-(C4)-II]. The second factor was the four levels of potassium fertilizer used as subplots: 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1. The findings revealed the cultivar Pulut URI exhibited superior performance in the number of leaves and 1000-seed weight. The cultivar Srikandi Ungu showed the best performance in producing more anthocyanin content. The maize genotype 1-3-1-2-B-II-(C4)-II gave the best results for plant height, peeled cob weight, seeds per cob, and seed yield. On average, the potassium fertilizer at 150 kg ha-1 appeared with the maximum plant height, number of leaves, cob weight, seeds per cob, and seed production. The cultivar Srikandi Ungu with potassium fertilizer 150 kg ha-1 emerged as the best strategy by giving superior results for anthocyanin content and 1000-seed weight.