Modified Double Row Spacing and Fertilizer Rate for Improved Productivity of Glutinous Corn

Various high yielding glutinous corn varieties have been developed and NSIC registered, however, the national and regional yield averages are still very low. A study therefore, was conducted to increase the yield of glutinous corn in Ilocos Norte though modification of planting distance and fertilizer rate. Experimental setups were established for two consecutive dry seasons from 2019-2021 which were laid-out in Split-Plot following the randomized complete block design with three replications using MMSU Glut 1 variety as test plants. Soil pH level of the soil before and after harvest from a depth 0-20 cm and 21-40 cm was increased from 7.26 to 7.52 and 7.33 to 7.60, respectively. MDR plots have higher OM at the 0-20 cm depth by 11.67% to 15.55% as N levels applied increase from 120 to 200 kg N ha-1. At 90 DAE, glutinous corn fertilized with 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1 was significantly taller by 4.2% and 10.77%; higher ear height by 9.6% and 21.40%, longer ear length, and wider ear diameter than those applied with 120-60-60 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1 and unfertilized corn plants, respectively. Heavier ear weight and larger seed size were attained from treatment combination of PD 75 cm x 20 cm and FR of 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O kg ha-1 and PD – MDR and FR of 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1. Combination of PD (MDR) and FR 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1 obtained the highest shelling percentage of 93.23%. PD and FR significantly affected the agronomic fertilizer use efficiency (AFUE) of glutinous corn. Application of FR 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1 provided glutinous corn an increased in yield of 17.5% (PD 75 cm x 20 cm), 55% (PD 60 cm x 20 cm) and 105% (PD 80:30 cm x 20 cm) over FR 180-80-80 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1, FR 120-60-60 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1, and the unfertilized, respectively. Treatment combination of PD MDR and FR 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1 gave glutinous corn higher yield by 28.10% using the combination of PD 60 cm x 20 cm and FR 200-100-100 kg NP2O5K2O ha-1 and 29.53% using ...