Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The cultivation of baby corn in countries like Thailand and Taiwan has proven to be a successful venture. In India, more attention is now given to explore its potentials in order to improve the economic stability of the growing farmers and serve as a source of foreign earning exchange for the country. The baby corn is not different from normal corn, rather its immature cobs of normal corn which are eaten whole unlike mature maize cobs which is too hard to be use rough for human consumption. However, India has to use its great potentials of availability of cheap labour to invest more in its cultivation since its value and market is becoming popular and increasing respectively, both within and outside the country (Ranjan, et al., 2013). One Hundred (100) grams of baby corn are rich in 89.1% moisture, 8.2 mg carbohydrate, 1.9 g protein, 0.06 g ash, 0.2 g fat, 28.0 mg calcium, 86.0 mg phosphorus and 11.0 mg ascorbic acid (Thavaprakaash, et al., 2005). Maximum productivity of baby corn can be achieve or improve through the application of chemical fertilizer but always remember sustainability of growing field for future generation as well as human health is imperative especially due to the continuous increase in country population and world at large. However, substitution of some portion of chemical fertilizers along with either organic manure or biofertilizer will maintain and sustains soil health as well as improving economic stability of farmers.