Author(s): M. Singh Pal and G. Joshi

Abstract: Field experiment was carried out at G B Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar (India) during Kharif season of 2016-17 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, quality and sensory evaluation of baby corn (Zea mays L.) in Terai region of Uttarakhand (India). The experiment consisted of 11 treatments i.e. T₁-control, T₂-seed treatment with Azotobacter (STAz),T₃ -seed treatment with Azospirillum (STAs),T₄- seed treatment with Azotobacter +Azospirillum (STAzAs), T₅-50% NPK, T₆-100% NPK, T₇-Seed treatment with Azotobacter+50% NPK (STAz+50% NPK), T₈-Seed treatment with Azospirillum+50%NPK(STAs+50%NPK), T₉- seed treatment with Azotobacter+Azospirillum+50% NPK(STAzAs+50% NPK), T₁₀-Seed treatment with Azotobacter+Azospirillum+75% NPK (STAzAs+75%NPK) and T₁₁-Seed treatment with Azotobacter+Azospirillum+100% NPK(STAzAs+100%NPK) was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The total baby corn yield was recorded significantly higher under STAzAs+100%NPK than STAzAs+75%NPK with 3.5% greater baby corn yield. Similarly, STAzAs+75%NPK produced 4.1per cent higher baby corn yield than 100%NPK. Total soluble solids (TSS) were found significantly higher at STAzAs+75%NPK, while average protein content was also estimated significantly higher at STAzAs+100%NPK. The baby corn produced under STAzAs+100%NPK was ‘extremely liked’ by 80 per cent and ‘liked very much’ by 20per cent of the respondents, while baby corns produced under STAzAs+75%NPK were ‘extremely preferred’ by 70 per cent and ‘liked very much’ by 30 per cent of the respondents. Seed treatment with biofertilizers improved not only baby corn yield but also quality and may help to reduce 25% NPK dose without significant reduction in baby corn yield. Therefore, it may be concluded that seed treatment with biofertilizers coupled with 75% NPK may not only increase the baby corn yield, TSS and crude protein but also improves sweetness, taste and higher acceptability by consumers.

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