Influence of crop geometry and nutrient levels on growth and yield of baby corn

Abstract:

Baby corn is one of those crops where the spacing between plants matters almost as much as what you feed them. This research investigated the combined effect of five crop geometries and four nutrient levels on growth and yield of baby corn (cv. HM-4) during the spring season of 2023 at Kumarganj, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. Among geometries, 50 × 20 cm produced the highest baby corn yield (10.28 t ha⁻¹ at 150% recommended dose of fertiliser), balancing individual-plant performance with population density. The narrowest spacing (45 × 20 cm) generated the tallest plants but thinner cobs due to intensified competition. Nutrient level at 150% RDF consistently outperformed lower rates, raising yield by 18.7% over 100% RDF. The interaction between geometry and nutrients was significant for cob yield and cob weight. These results point to 50 × 20 cm spacing combined with 150% RDF as the most productive configuration for spring baby corn on alluvial soils in eastern Uttar Pradesh.