African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6860

Full Length Research Paper

Growth and yield of baby corn as influenced by nitrogen topdressing

Edcassio Dias Araujo
  • Edcassio Dias Araujo
  • Departamento de Engenharia Agrícola, Universidade Federal de Viçosa – UFV, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa – MG, Brasil.
  • Google Scholar
Francielle de Matos Feitosa
  • Francielle de Matos Feitosa
  • Departamento de Genética e Melhoramento, Universidade Federal de Viçosa – UFV, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa – MG, Brasil.
  • Google Scholar
Francisco Charles dos Santos Silva
  • Francisco Charles dos Santos Silva
  • Departamento de Fitotcenia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa – UFV, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa – MG, Brasil.
  • Google Scholar
Ildeu de Oliveira Andrade Junior
  • Ildeu de Oliveira Andrade Junior
  • Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros – Unimontes, CEP 39440-000, Janaúba – MG, Brasil.
  • Google Scholar
Bruno Rafael A. Rodrigues
  • Bruno Rafael A. Rodrigues
  • Departamento de Fitotcenia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa – UFV, CEP 36570-900, Viçosa – MG, Brasil.
  • Google Scholar
Wagner F. da Mota
  • Wagner F. da Mota
  • Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros – Unimontes, CEP 39440-000, Janaúba – MG, Brasil.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 09 November 2016
  •  Accepted: 05 January 2017
  •  Published: 23 March 2017

Abstract

Baby corn maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly profitable alternative to farmers due to its short crop duration, being harvested at the juvenile stage. It demands large amounts of nutrients in a short time, especially nitrogen, which is responsible for the rapid development of crop. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of topdressing application of different doses of nitrogen on the vegetative and spikelet productivity features in the baby corn crop in Janaúba - Minas Gerais. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and four treatments. The treatments comprised four doses of nitrogen (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 N applied as urea) top dressed at the V6 (sixty leave with visible auricle) growth stage, which occurs 30 days after sowing the seed. Nitrogen topdressing doses did not interfere in vegetative characteristics of baby corn cultivar Al Bandeirante, but the productivity of spikelet responded to the increasing doses of nitrogen, being the highest productivity at a dose of 120 kg ha-1 N.

 

Key words: Fertilizer, urea, Zea mays L., fertilization, yield components