SWEET CORN, A PROFITABLE CROP: PAU EXPERTS

LUDHIANA, JUNE 23:-----



In view of its demand at airports, marriage palaces and malls, sweet corn fetches high price in the market and its consumption helps meet the energy requirement of the body. Calling it specialty maize, PAU experts of Plant Breeding and Genetics Department, honed the skills of the farmers by providing them vital information about the successful cultivation of sweet corn.



Dr Sukhchain Singh said that various public sector institutes and corporate bodies have released different varieties/hybrids of sweet corn. He impressed upon the farmers that before sowing the crop, they must contact the organizations involved in marketing to avoid future problems. Highlighting PAU released sweet corn variety "Punjab Sweet Corn 1," the expert told that the variety has tall growing plants, medium thick stem and medium ear placement. Having broad leaves, its tassel is open and anthers are of cream colour. Dr Singh added that the variety is suitable for use as sweet corn on commercial basis as its developing and immature grains in green ears possess high sugar content. It matures in about 95-100 days and yields about 50 quintals of green ears per acre. Grain yield is about 13 quintals per acre.



Furthermore, Dr SPS Brar informed that it can be sown from end of May to end of June. However, higher yields can be obtained when sown in August as the attack of maize borer is low in August sown crop. He suggested that sowing should be done in lines by placing the seed 3-5 cm deep with row to row spacing of 60 cm and plant to plant spacing of 22 cm. Pointing to weed control, Dr Brar asked the farmers to apply Atrataf 50 WP (Atrazine) @ 800 g/acre on medium to heavy textured soils and 500g/acre in light solid within two days after sowing. Throwing light on irrigation and drainage, the scientist said that generally, 4-6 irrigations are required depending upon rainfall. Maize can tolerate heavy rains provided fields are not subjected to flooding that causes damage to the crop at young stage. He advised to drain excess water as soon as possible.



Elaborating further, Dr Mahesh Kumar, told that where maize is sown, green manure the field with sun hemp or dhaincha or cowpea. Green crop should be buried when 50 days old and allowed to decompose for about 10 days before sowing the maize crop. Sweet corn requires 50 kg of nitrogen, 24 kg of phosphorus and 12 kg of potash (when the soil test shows deficiency). Dr Kumar advised to drill one third nitrogen and the entire quantity of phosphorus and potash at the time of sowing. At knee high stage, top dress one third of nitrogen and the remaining one third of nitrogen at the pre-tasseling stage.



Referring to harvesting and threshing, the farm varsity experts suggested that green ears can be removed at dough stage for selling in the market. Plant protection measures for control of insect pests and diseases are same as in case of normal maize, added they.
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