Effect of different nutrient sources and liquid organic manures on yield attributes and economics of sweet corn (Zea mays var. Saccharata)

Introduction

Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) is a specialty maize crop valued for its soft and sweet kernels harvested at the milky stage. It is widely consumed as a vegetable in fresh, roasted, canned and processed forms and is gaining popularity among urban consumers due to its taste, nutritional value and ease of cooking (Revilla et al., 2021) [7] . It is rich in sugars, dietary fibre, vitamin C, beta-carotene and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. The presence of carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, along with B-complex vitamins enhances its nutritional value and makes it an important crop for dietary diversification and human health (Ozata et al., 2019) [5] . Excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers in conventional farming has led to soil degradation including acidification, salinity, decline in soil organic carbon and reduction in beneficial microbial populations, thereby affecting soil health and long-term sustainability (Manoj et al., 2020) [4] . In contrast, organic farming relies on natural nutrient cycling and biodiversity to restore soil fertility and sustain crop productivity. Organic nutrient sources such as biocompost, vermicompost and fermented liquid manures including Jeevamrut, Panchagavya and cow urine play an important role in improving soil fertility and crop performance. Studies have reported that the application of poultry manure, organic nutrient combinations and organic nitrogen sources significantly enhances sweet corn yield and yield attributes under organic production systems (Das et al., 2024) [1] . Similarly, liquid organic manures have been found to improve cob yield and harvest performance in sweet corn (Sushmitha et al., 2023) [11] .

Materials and Methods

The present field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2025-26, Agricultural College Farm, Naira, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, which is geographically situated at 18.38 0 N latitude, 83.94 0 N longitudes and with an altitude of 27 m above mean sea level in the North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh. During the crop growth period, the weekly mean maximum temperature ranged from 29.93 °C to 33.36 °C with an average of 31.55 °C and weekly mean minimum temperature ranged from 11.07 °C to 17.50 °C with an average of 14.11 °C. The weekly relative humidity morning ranged from 79.86% to 90.00% with an average of 84.54% and weekly relative humidity afternoon ranged from 57.14 to 86.86% with an average of 72.75%.A total rainfall of 149.5 mm was received in 8 rainy days. Favourable weather conditions prevailed for the successful growth of the sweet corn. The experiment was laid out in a splitplot design with four main plot treatments involving different nutrient sources(M 1 )100% Recommended dose of nutrients through 50% Poultry manure + 50% Vermicompost, (M 2 ) 100% Recommended dose of nutrients through 33% Poultry manure + 33%Vermicompost + 33% FYM, (M 3 ) 150% Recommended dose of nutrients through 50% Poultry manure + 50% Vermicompost and (M 4 )150% Recommended dose of nutrients through 33% Poultry manure + 33%Vermicompost + 33% FYM. The sub-plots include six liquid organic manures (S 1 ) Vermiwash spraying @ 5% Concentration at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS, (S 2 ) Panchagavya spraying @ 3% Concentration at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS,(S 3 )Soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @500 L ha -1 at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS,(S 4 )Soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @1000 L ha -1 at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS,(S 5 ) Application of Vermiwash @ 5% Concentration + Panchagavya spraying at @ 3% Concentration at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS and (S 6 ) Jeevamrutham application @500 L ha -1 + Vermiwash spraying @ 5% Concentration + Panchagavya spraying at @ 3% Concentration at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS. All the treatments were replicated thrice. Data was collected on various characters such as the number of cobs plant -1 , number of kernel rows cob -1 , number of kernels row -1 , Single cob weight, fresh cob yield, stover yield and economics of sweet corn.

Results and Discussion

Data pertaining to number of cobs plant -1 of sweet corn revealed that different sources of nutrition and liquid organic manures as well as their interaction did not significantly influence the number of cobs plant -1 is presented in (Table 1). Number of kernel rows cob -1 , number of kernels row -1 and single cob weight of sweet corn were significantly influenced by different sources of nutrition and liquid organic manures. With regards to different sources of nutrition, significantly higher kernel rows cob -1 ,kernels row -1 and single cob weight were recorded with150% RDN supplied through 50% poultry manure and 50% vermicompost (M 3 )which was on par with 150%RDNthrough 33% each (Poultry manure + VC + FYM(M 4 ). Similar findings were reported by Suneetha et al. (2021) [10] and Kalay et al. (2020) [3] and Surjarani Devi et al. (2018) [2] . Whereas the lowest kernel rows cob -1 , kernels row -1 and single cob weight obtained with (M 2 )100% RDN through 33% Poultry manure + 33%VC + 33% FYM. Among liquid organic manures, Jeevamrutham @ 500 L ha⁻¹ along with vermiwash @ 5% and panchagavya @ 3% (S 6 ) recorded the highest kernel rows cob⁻¹ and which is at par with soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @1000 L ha -1 aT 15 ,30,45 and 60 DAS(S 4 ), Application of Vermi wash @ 5% Concentration +Panchagavya spraying at @ 3% Concentration at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS (S 5 )and Soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @500 L ha -1 aT 15 ,30,45 and 60 DAS(S 3 ).Whereas, Minimum values observed with application of (S 1 ) Vermi wash spraying @ 5% Concentration alone. Application of (S 6 ) consisting of Jeevamrutham @ 500 L ha⁻¹ along with vermiwash @ 5% and panchagavya @ 3% significantly recorded higher kernels row -1 followed by(S 4 ) Soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @1000 L ha -1 at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS. Similar findings were reported by Tiwari and Kumar (2022) [12] . Whereas lower values observed with application of (S 1 ) vermi wash spraying @ 5% concentration alone. With regards to single cob weight of sweet corn significantly higher recorded with application of consisting of Jeevamrutham @ 500 L ha⁻¹ along with vermiwash @ 5% and panchagavya @ 3% (S 6 ) which was on par with (S 4 ) Soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @1000 L ha -1 at 15,30,45 and 60 DAS and whereas lowest was recorded in case of vermi wash spraying @ 5% concentration(S 1 ) alone. The fresh cob yield and stover yield of sweet corn was significantly influenced by different nutrient sources and liquid organic manures. Among the different nutrient sources, significantly higher fresh cob yield and stover yield was recorded with M 3 (150% RDN through 50% poultry manure + 50% vermicompost) (4803 kg ha⁻¹) and(5427kg ha⁻¹) and it was on par with M 4 (15% RDN through 33% each (poultry manure + vermicompost + FYM) (4689 kg ha⁻¹) and (5362kg ha⁻¹). The lowest fresh cob yield was recorded with M 2 100% RDN through 33% each (poultry manure + 33% vermicompost + 33% FYM) (4201 kg ha⁻¹) and (4884 kg ha⁻¹). The fresh cob yield recorded under M 3 was 14.33 per cent higher than M 2 , 12.19 per cent higher than M 1 and 2.43 per cent higher than M 4 . The increase in fresh cob yield under M 3 might be attributed to the higher and sustained availability of essential nutrients throughout the crop growth period. The combined application of these organic sources enhanced nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency and translocation of assimilates towards developing cobs, resulting in better cob development and higher fresh cob yield. Poultry manure supplied readily available nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, while vermicompost improved nutrient mineralization, soil physical properties and microbial activity resulting in greater biomass production and ultimately higher stover yield. Similar results were recorded in the findings of Sharma et al. (2025) [9] and Raghavendra et al. (2024) [6] . With respect to liquid organic manures, significantly higher fresh cob yield (4813kg ha⁻¹) and stover yield (5550kg ha⁻¹)was recorded with S 6 (Jeevamrutham application @ 500 L ha⁻¹ + Vermiwash spraying @ 5% concentration + Panchagavya spraying @ 3% concentration at 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS)which is at par withS 4 (Soil drenching of Jeevamrutham application @ 1000 L ha⁻¹)gives (4608kg ha⁻¹) and (5270kg ha⁻¹).The higher fresh cob yield and stover yield under S 6 might be due to the synergistic effect of Jeevamrutham, Vermiwash and Panchagavya in enhancing soil microbial activity, nutrient availability and plant physiological processes. Jeevamrutham promoted beneficial microbial proliferation and nutrient mobilization, while Vermiwash and Panchagavya supplied growth-promoting substances, enzymes and micronutrients. This integrated application improved vegetative growth, photosynthetic activity and assimilate partitioning towards cob formation, resulting in higher biomass accumulation thereby increasing fresh cob yield and stover yield. These findings are in accordance with the results of Sushmitha et al. (2023) [11] and Safiullah et al. (2018) [8] . The lowest cob yield and stover yield (4267 kg ha⁻¹) and (5001 kg ha⁻¹) respectively) was recorded with S 1 (Vermiwash spraying @ 5% concentration alone). Interaction between various sources of nutrition and liquid organic manures were not significantly influenced the fresh cob yield and stover yield of sweet corn. Economics of sweet corn cultivation was significantly influenced by nutrient sources and liquid organic manure applications is presented in Table 2. Among the nutrient sources (M 3 ) (150% RDN through 50% poultry manure + 50% vermicompost) recorded the highest gross returns (₹120,693 ha⁻¹), net returns (₹74,271 ha⁻¹) and rupee gained per rupee invested (1.60). It was higher than the next best treatment (M 4 ) by ₹2,798 ha⁻¹ gross returns, ₹2,513 ha⁻¹ net returns and 0.05 units in rupee gained per rupee invested and exceeded the lowest treatment (M 2 ) by ₹15,009 ha⁻¹ gross returns, ₹12,883 ha⁻¹ net returns and 0.21 units respectively. Among the liquid organic manure treatments, S 6 (Jeevamrutham @ 500 L ha⁻¹ + Vermiwash @ 5% + Panchagavya @ 3%) recorded the highest gross returns (₹121,050 ha⁻¹), net returns (₹75,011 ha⁻¹) and rupee gained per rupee invested (1.63). It surpassed the next best treatment (S 4 ) by ₹5,180 ha⁻¹ gross returns, ₹5,106 ha⁻¹ net returns and 0.11 units, while showing an advantage of ₹13,650 ha⁻¹ gross returns, ₹12,376 ha⁻¹ net returns and 0.23 units over the lowest treatment (S 1 ). The superior economic performance of M 3 and S 6 was mainly attributed to their higher fresh cob and stover yields.

Conclusion

The study concluded that application of 100% RDN through 50% poultry manure + 50% vermicompost (M 3 ) along with Jeevamrutham @ 500 L ha⁻¹ at 15, 30, 45, 60 DAS along with vermiwash @ 5% and panchagavya @ 3% (S 6 ) significantly enhanced the yield attributes and yield, while also delivering the highest economic returns making it a better option for higher yields in rabi sweet corn in North coastal Andhra Pradesh.

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