Effect of nitrogen and zinc on growth and yield of popcorn (Zea mays everta L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2023-24 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of 3 levels of Nitrogen (80 Kg/ha, 100 Kg/ha and 120 Kg/ha as Soil application) and 3 levels of Zinc (25 kg/ha soil application, 0.5% foliar application and 12.5 kg/ha soil application + 0.25% Foliar application) and a control (120:60:40 N-P-K kg/ha). The results revealed that application of 120 kg/ha Nitrogen + soil application of 12.5 kg/ha Zinc along with foliar application of 0.25% Zinc (Treatment 9) recorded maximum plant height (175.57 cm), dry weight (157.47 g), number of cobs/plant (1.60), number of grain rows per cob (15.33), number of grains per row (30.36), test weight (21.34 g), grain yield (3.78 t/ha), straw yield (10.20 t/ha) and harvest index (29.85%). It also recorded the maximum gross returns (1,60,319.00 INR/ha), net returns (1,14,755.00 INR/ha) and B:C ratio (2.51) were also recorded in the same treatment in popcorn.