Fodder Quality of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Method of Planting, Crop Geometry and Nitrogen Application
2013
A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Forage Research and Management Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana (India) during post monsoon season (2011–2012) in split plot design with two methods of planting of baby corn (ridge and flat) in main plot, six crop geometries (50cm × 15cm, 50cm × 20cm, 60cm × 15cm, 60cm × 20cm, 70cm × 15cm and 70cm × 20cm) in sub plots and two nitrogen levels (120 and 150 kg N/ha) in sub-sub plots. The crop was sown on August 18, 2011. Soil of experimental site was clay loam in texture, neutral in reaction, low in organic matter and available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus and potassium. Ridge planted crop yielded significantly higher green and dry fodder (238.45 and 52.00q/ha) respectively) after removal of cobs and tassels, than the green and dry fodder yield in flat planting (213.47 and 45.93q/ha respectively). Higher crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and cob yield were obtained in ridge planting than flat planting. Significantly higher cob as well as fodder yield was obtained in 50cm × 15cm crop geometry than all other crop geometry treatments except, 50 × 20cm and 60cm × 15cm crop, which were at par with 50 × 15cm. However, 50cm × 15cm geometry resulted in significantly higher total carbohydrate content. Crude protein, total ash, NDF content and In-sacco DMD were significantly higher in 70cm × 15cm and 70cm × 20cm crop geometry treatments but these remained at par among themselves and with 60cm × 15cm crop geometry in case of CP, total ash and organic matter content. Whereas, 60cm x 15cm had significantly higher hemicelluloses than 50cm x 15cm. Application of 150 kg N/ha improved the crude protein content and yield of baby corn and fodder.
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