REVIEW OF SWEET CORN UNDER VARYING PLANT DENSITIES ENHANCING THE GROWTH AND YIELD CHARACTERS

P. Spandana Bhatt and M.YakadriScientist (Agronomy) Krishi vigyan Kendra Palem, Principal scientist, AICRp in Weed

management, HyderabadAbstract Keywords: Sweet corn, Plant densities, Growth character, yield, Economics

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a miracle crop emerging as third most important cereal

crop next to rice and wheat. It is grown for food, feed and as a source for

numerous industrial products. Its array of diversity of uses and large hidden

potential for exploitation led the renowed Nobel laureate, Norman E Borlaug to

say that “ last two decades saw the revolution in rice and wheat, the next few

decades will become the maize era”. Sweet corn is one of type of maize which

contains 13 to 15 percent sugar in immature grains. Sweet corn is consumed at

the soft dough stage with succulent grains, emerged as an alternative dish of

urbanites. The information on response of highly productive sweetcorn hybrids to

varying plant densities beyond the present level of recommendation is meager.

Therefore, The available literature related to the present study has been reviewed

under the following

heads.

1. Effect of planting densities on growth and physiology of crops

2. Effect of plant densities on yield attributes

3. Effect of plant densities on cob and fodder yield

4. Effect of plant densities on quality parameters

5.effect of plant densities on nutrient uptake

6. Effect of plant densities on economics

Effect of planting densities on growth and physiology of crops

Plant height

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Setty (1981) and Muleba et al. (1983) found that plant height was

significantly increased with increasing plant population from 40,000 to 80,000

plants ha-1 in rabi maize. The varying populations ranging from 40 to 90 thousand

plants ha-1 showed an improvement in plant height from 200.9 to 207.1 cm

(Bangarwa et al., 1993), but the individual plant growth was affected due to

competition at high plant densities (Thakur et al., 1995). Bangarwa and Gaur (1998)

found that increase in plant population from 37,000 to 1,10,000 plants ha -1 did not

bring much variation in plant height. Gozubenli Huseyin et al. (2003) observed tall

plants at 1,00,000 plants ha-1 as compared the plant height at 50,000 plants ha-1. The

successive increase in plant densities from 55 to 75 thousand plants ha-1 produced

taller plants at harvest in sweet corn (Massey, 2005). Altering the spacing from 60 x

10 cm to 60 x 30 cm resulted in increased plant height linearly (151.5 to 176.5 cm) as

reported by Muniswamy et al. (2007) during kharif season. Suryavanshi et al.

(2008) noticed that the maize plant height was not influenced significantly due to

different spacings during kharif season in black soils. Ashok Kumar (2009) observed

that the plant height was increased from 95.2 to 104.9 cm with increasing the plant

density from 66, 666 plants ha-1 to 1, 11, 111 plants ha-1.

Leaf Area Index (LAI)

Mali and Singh (1989) noticed higher LAI (8.05) at a spacing of 60 x 15 cm

as compared to the other spacings viz., 60 x 20 cm and 60 x 25 cm. Tollennaar et al.

(1994) found that leaf area index increased from 2.40 to 4.47 with increase in plant

density from 40,000 to 1,00,000 plants ha-1. Cox (1996) revealed that high pant

density of 90,000 ha-1 maintained 20 and 40 per cent higher leaf area index over

the reduced plant density of 67,500 and 45,000 plants ha -1 respectively. The

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increase in LAI (3.1 to 4.6) with increase in plant population (83,000 to 1,45,000

plants ha-1) was reported by Sanjeev Kumar and Bangarwa (1997) at Hisar in winter

maize on sandy loam soil. Massey (2005) observed that with increase in plant

densities from 55 to 75 thousand plants ha-1 gave significant increase in leaf area and

leaf area index. Increasing the spacing from 60 x 10 cm to 60 x 30 cm increased the

leaf area (Muniswamy et al., 2007). Suryavanshi et al. (2008) stated that wider

spacing of 60 x 30 cm recorded significantly higher values of leaf area over the

closer spacing 60 x 20 cm.

Dry matter production

Angiras and Singh (1988) reported significant reduction in dry matter

accumulation plant-1 with increasing plant density from 60,000 to 90,000 plants ha-1.

Bangarwa et al. (1989 ) found that dry matter plant-1 of maize decrease

with increase in plant density from 40,000 to 90,000 plants ha-1.Sarweswara Rao

(1990) reported that wider spacing of 60 x 25 cm resulted in higher dry matter plant-

1 compared to closer spacing of 45 x 15 cm and 30 x 15 cm. Roy and Biswas

(1992) found increase in total dry matter production ha -1 with increased plant

density from 33,333 to 66,000 plants ha-1.Bangarwa et al. (1993) reported that

increase in plant population from 40,000 to 90,000 plants ha-1 significantly

decreased dry matter production plant-1.

Sanjeev Kumar and Bangarwa (1997) observed higher dry matter (g /m2)

produced at higher plant populations (1,45,000 plants ha-1) compared to lower

population (83,000 plants ha-1 ). Singh et al. (1997) did not notice any significant

difference in dry matter production with varied planting pattern of 60 x 20 cm, 60

x 25 cm and 60 x 30 cm. Suryavanshi et al. (2008) stated that wider spacing of 60 x

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30 cm recorded significantly higher values of total dry matter per cent over the closer

spacing of 60 x 20 cm. Ashok Kumar (2009) noticed reduced dry weight plant-1 with

increasing planting density from 66,666 to 1,11,111 ha-1.

Days to 50 percent flowering

At Maize Research Station, Hyderabad it was observed that the highest plant

population of 98,000 ha-1 took 83 days to attain flowering, which was 2 and 3 days

earlier as compared to plant population levels of 83,000 and 67,000 ha-1, respectively

(AICMIP, 1990-91). Jacobs and Pearson (1991) also noticed that silk extrusion was

delayed with increase in population. Earlier appearance of silk was observed at wider

spacing of 60 x 30 cm as compared to 60 x 10 cm spacing (Muniswamy et al.,

2007).

EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITIES ON YIELD ATTRIBUTES

Number of cobs plant-1

Sarweswara Rao (1990) reported that wider spacing of 60 x 25 cm recorded

more number of cobs plant-1 compared to closer spacings of 45 x 15 cm and 30 x 15

cm. Thakur et al. (1997) noted significant decrease in cob number plant-1 (2.73 to

1.41) with increase in population from 83,333 to 2,50,000 plants ha-1. Increasing the

levels of population from 53,333 to 88,888 plants ha-1 significantly decreased the

number of cobs plant-1 (1.55 to 1.12) as reported by Tyagi et al. (1998).

Muniswamy et al. (2007) found that increasing the spacing from 60 x10 cm to 60

x 30 cm significantly increased the number of cobs plant-1 (1.36 to 2.24).

Cob length

Singh et al. (1987) revealed that planting pattern of 75 x 20 cm resulted in

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significantly larger cobs than with 100 x 15 cm and 50 x 30 cm. Babu and Mitra

(1989) reported that cob length was higher with the plant density of 33,333 ha-1 than

with 66,666 and 99,999 plants ha-1. Increasing the levels of population from 83,000

to 1,11,000 plants ha-1 did not affect the cob length (11.3 to 12.3 cm) significantly

(Narayana swamy et al., 1994). Tyagi et al. (1998) reported that cob length

decreased (18.46 to 15.95 cm) significantly with increase in plant population from

53,333 to 88,888 plants ha-1. At Hyderabad, Raja (2001) found that the size of cob

was larger with the plant density of 53,333 than 88,888 plants ha -1. The plant

population of 83,333 plants ha-1 produced shorter cobs than with the plant population

of 66,666 and 53,333 plants ha-1 (Sahoo and Mahapatra, 2004). The shorter ears were

obtained from higher plant density of 1,02,040 plants ha-1 while longer ears were

found at lower plant density of 47,620 plants ha-1 (Gulgun Oktem and Abdullah

Oktem, 2005). Increasing the spacing from 60 x10 cm to 60 x 30 cm significantly

increased the cob length (Muniswamy et al., 2007). Suryavanshi et al. (2008) also

stated that wider spacing of 60 x 30 cm recorded significantly higher values of cob

length (16.13 cm) over the closer spacing 60 x 20 cm (14.57 cm).

Cob weight

Choudhary (1981) reported that cob weight was markedly increased with 60

cm row spacing compared to 90 cm rows at both the population levels of 6,17,000

and 9,26,000 plants ha-1, respectively. The wider spacing of 60 x 25 cm resulted in

significantly more cob weight compared to closer spacings of 45 x 30 cm and 30 x

15 cm (Sarweswara Rao 1990). Ashok Kumar (2009) reported that cob weight

declined with increase in planting density from 66,666 to 1,11,111 ha -1 except

between 66,666 and 83,333 ha-1 which remained on par.

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Total number of kernels cob-1

At Dharwad, Desai (1987) noticed that number of kernels cob-1 were higher at

lower population (55,555 plants ha-1) than with moderate (74,074 plants ha-1) and

higher (1,11,111 plants ha-1 ) populations. Tetio and Gardner (1988a) found that

number of kernel rows cob-1 decreased linearly with increase of one plant m-2 in the

population density over the range of 0.8 to 15.4 plants m-2. Misra et al. (1994)

observed that number of seed rows cob-1 with 75 x 20 cm spacing was on par with

the spacing of 65 x 20 cm and they were significantly higher than with 60 x 17 cm.

Ashok Kumar (2009) stated that total number of kernels cob-1 declined with

increasing the plant density from 66,666 to 1,11,111 plants ha-1.

Test weight

Singh et al. (1997) reported that increase in population from 55,556 to

1, 11,111 plants ha-1 reduced the 1000 grain weight (233.1 to 213.2 g). An increase in

plant population from 53,333 to 88,888 plants ha-1 gave reduced test weight (Tyagi

et al., 1998). Muniswamy et al. (2007) reported that increasing the spacing from 60

x10 cm to 60 x 30 cm significantly increased 1000 grain weight (274.3 to 281.7 g).

Suryavanshi et al. (2008) also reported that wider spacing of 60 x 30 cm

recorded significantly higher 1000 grain weight (259.51g) over closer spacing of 60

x 20 cm (234.65 g). The 1000 kernels weight declined with increase in planting

density from 66,666 (275.2g) to 1,11,111 (251.3 g) plants ha-1 (Ashok Kumar, 2009).

EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITIES ON COB AND FODDER YIELD

Cob yield

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The cob yield followed the quadratic response to the level of plant population

in sweet corn (Tetio and Gardner,1988b).Raja (2001) revealed that plant

population density of 88,888 plants ha-1 registered significantly higher green cob

yield of sweet corn than 66,666 and 53,333 plants ha-1. Sahoo and Mahapatra

(2004) concluded that sweet corn with plant density of 66,666 ha-1 with spacing of 60

x 25 cm resulted in higher fresh cob yield than 83,333 and 55,555 plants ha-1.

Kar et al. (2006) found that planting geometry of 60 x 20 cm recorded

significantly higher green cob yield of sweet corn than with 45 x 30 cm and 60 x

30 cm. There was significant improvement of 19.89 per cent in green cob yield with

increasing the plant population density from 66,666 to 83,333 plants ha-1 Ashok

Kumar (2009).

Fodder yield

Raghotam Reddy (1984), Singh and Tajbaksh (1986) and Bangarwa et al.

(1989) reported increase in stover yield with increase in plant population.

Sarweswara Rao (1990) revealed that closer spacing of 30 x 15 cm resulted in

significantly higher stover yield than with the spacing of 45 x 15 cm and 60 x 25 cm.

Singh et al. (1992) recorded the highest stover yield with the planting

pattern of 45 x 25 cm, which was 13 .6 and 23.3 per cent higher over the planting

patterns of 45 x 30 cm and 60 x 25 cm, respectively. Narayana swamy et al. (1994)

reported significant improvement in stover yield (26.74 to 30.85 q ha -1) with increase

in plant population from 83,000 to 1,11,000 plants ha-1. Bangarwa and Gaur (1998)

also found that increasing the plant population from 37,000 to 1,10,000 plants ha-1

significantly increased the stover yield. Tyagi et al. (1998) found significant

increase in fodder yield (87.84 to 139.09 q ha-1) with increase in plant density from

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53,333 to 88,888 plants ha-1. The increase in stover yield was observed when plant

density increased from 65,000 to 85,000 plants ha-1. Further increase in plant density

of 95,000 plants ha-1 decreased the stover yield (107.80 q ha-1) (Ameta and Dhakar,

2000). Kar et al. (2006) reported that the highest green fodder yield of sweet corn

was obtained with a closer spacing of 45 x 20 cm, which was 37.8 % per centhigher

over 60 x 30 cm. A closer spacing of 60 x 20 cm produced significantly higher

fodder yield over wider spacing 60 x 30 cm (Suryavanshi et al., 2008). The

increase in planting density significantly increased the green fodder yield, being

maximum at 1,11,111 plants ha-1 than at 66,666 plants

ha-1 (Ashok Kumar, 2009).

EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITIES ON QUALITY PARAMETERS

Misra et al. (1994) recorded the highest protein of maize grain with the

planting pattern of 60 x 17 cm, followed by 60 x 20 cm and it was the lowest with

75 x 25 cm. Singh et al. (1997) did not observe any variation in grain protein content

due to different plant populations in maize. The quality parameters of sweet corn viz.,

total sugars and protein content were not influenced significantly due to varied plant

population of 53,333, 66,666 and 88,888 plants ha-1 (Raja, 2001).

Kar et al. (2006) found that the spacing 60 x 20 cm significantly increased the

protein yield (174.3 kg ha-1) than 45 x 30 cm (148.22 kg ha-1) in sweet corn.

EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITIES ON NUTRIENT UPTAKE

Misra et al. (1994) observed that increase in plant density from 67,000 to

98,000 plants ha-1significantly increased the N uptake (52.2 to 114 kg ha-1). Singh

and Tajbaksh (1986) found maximum N uptake (136.14 kg ha-1) with the highest

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plant density of 1, 11,111 plants ha-1. Singh et al. (1997) reported that uptake of

nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by maize crop was significantly higher with a

spacing of 60 x 20 cm (83,333 plants ha-1) than with other intra row spacings of 15,

25 and 30 cm. Thakur et al. (1998) reported more N uptake with increased plant

density. At Bangalore, Yogananda (1998) recorded higher nitrogen uptake by maize

with a plant stand of 74,000 ha-1 than with 98,000 plants ha -1. However, phosphorus

and potassium uptake was not influenced due to variation in plant densities. Kar et

al. (2006) reported that the highest grain nitrogen uptake was obtained with 60 x 20

cm, which was on par with that of 60 x 30 cm planting pattern. But uptake in stover

was maximum with closer spacing of 45 x 20 cm. The total nitrogen uptake was

maximum at 45 x 20 cm. Sahoo and Mahapatra (2007) found that a population of

83,333 plants ha-1 removed 56.3 kg nitrogen and 23.1 kg P2O5 ha-1 which was

significantly higher than of other populations viz., 1,11,111, 66,666 and 55,666

plants ha-1. The potassium uptake was on par with 1,11,111 plants ha-1. Ashok Kumar

(2009) observed that there was a significantly higher nitrogen uptake with 83,333

plants ha-1 than 66,666 and 1,11,111 plants ha-1.

EFFECT OF PLANT DENSITIES ON ECONOMICS

Misra et al. (1994) found that higher net return was obtained with the

row spacing of 60 cm than with the row spacings of 75 cm and 45 cm. The higher

net monetary return (Rs. 8,699 to Rs. 10,415 ha-1) were recorded with 85,000 plants

ha-1 (Ameta and Dhakar, 2000). Sahoo and Mahapatra (2004) revealed that the

population of 83.3 x 103 plants ha-1 gave the highest net profit of Rs. 37,345 ha-1 than

other populations of 66.7 x 103, 55.6 x 103 and 111. 1 x 103 plants ha-1. Adoption of

60 x 30 cm spacing recorded significantly higher net return (Rs. 15,078 ha-1) and

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benefit: cost ratio (2.24) as compared to 60 x 20 cm spacing (Suryavanshi et al.,

2008). The maximum net return (Rs. 38,500 ha-1 ) and net returns/ rupee invested

(Rs. 2.96 ) were found at the planting density of 83,333 plants ha -1 (Ashok Kumar,

2009).

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