Effect of sources and levels of nutrients on growth and yield behaviour of pop corn (Zea mays) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) sequence

A field experiment was conducted during 2008–09 and 2009–10 at New Delhi, to study the effect of organic sources of nutrients on growth, yield and yield attributes of pop porn (Zea mays averta Sturt)-potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping system. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations with 8 treatments in pop corn [control, recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (N₁₂₀P₂₅K₃₅ kg/ha), farmyard manure equivalent to 120 kg N/ha (FYM₁₂₀), leaf compost equivalent to 120 kg N/ha (LC₁₂₀), vermicompost equivalent to 120 kg N/ha (VC₁₂₀), farmyard manure equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (FYM₉₀), leaf compost equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (LC₉₀) and vermicompost equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (VC₉₀)] and 3 treatments in potato crop [control, farmyard manure equivalent to 60 kg N/ha (FYM₆₀) and farmyard manure equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (FYM₉₀)]. The application of RDF (N₁₂₀P₂₅K₃₅ kg/ha) recorded significantly highest plant height, leaf-area index and dry matter with higher values of yield attributes, viz. cob length and girth, cobs/ha over the control. Application of vermicompost equivalent to 120 kg N/ha was the best source and remained at par with VC₉₀, FYM₁₂₀, FYM₉₀ and N₁₂₀P₂₅K₃₅ kg/ha for growth and yield attributes of pop corn. Similar trend in respect of grain and stover yield was also found. Due to residual fertility of FYM (equivalent to 120 kg N/ha) potato recorded the highest plant height, LAI, number of haulms and dy matter in haulms. Both FYM (equivalent to 90 kg/ha) and vermicompost (equivalent to 120 kg N/ha) exhibited the effects similar to FYM @ 120 kg N/ha. The yield and yield attributes of potato, viz. tubers/hill, fresh and dry weight of tubers, tuber yield and haulm yield also exhibited similar trend. Regarding direct effects of FYM, application of FYM equivalent to 90 kg N/ha in potato recorded the higher plant height, LAI, haulms/hill, dry matter in haulms; and yield and yield attributes compared to FYM equivalent 60 kg N/ha and control.