Measuring the Influence of Seedling Age and Nutrient Sources on the Performance of Sweet Corn ( L.) under Temperate Climatic Conditions.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the age of a seedling and sources of nutrients on the growth and yield of sweet corn at SKUAST-K during Kharif-2020. The experiment was performed under a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A was the age of the seedling with three levels, , 12-day-old seedlings, 22-day-old seedlings, and 32-day-old seedlings. Factor B was the source of nutrients with five levels, , control, recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 1/2 RDF + 12 t ha farmyard manure, 1/2 RDF + 4 t ha vermicompost, and 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha poultry manure. The experiment was tested using variety Sugar-75 with a spacing of 75 × 20 cm. The findings of this study indicated that the age of the seedling and sources of nutrients extended a significant influence on growth parameters, yield attributes, and yield of sweet corn. Significantly highest values for various growth parameters of sweet corn, , plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area index (LAI), and dry matter accumulation from 30 days after transplanting up to the harvest, were noted by transplanting A seedlings (22 day old). A similar trend was observed for yield attributes and yield with higher values with transplanting A seedlings (22 day old). Plots fertilized with 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha poultry manure registered a significantly higher plant height, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation, and number of functional leaves, which eventually resulted in a higher green cob yield and green fodder yield under the same treatment. Overall, this study indicated that among different ages of seedlings, transplanting A seedlings (22 day old) outperformed other seedling ages, and plots treated with 1/2 RDF + 2 t ha poultry manure outperformed other treatments; a combination of both proved superior in realizing a higher yield and profitability with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 6.57 under temperate climatic conditions.