Effects of sowing dates and planting density on yield and quality characteristics of super sweet corn in Huang-Huai-Hai area

Sweet corn is significantly influenced by climatic variability and planting geometry in account of its high sugar content and consumer appeal.Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of four sowing dates i.e. 25th April, 10th May, 25th May and 10th June and three plant densities i.e. 3000, 3500, and 4000 plants per 667 m 2 on the yield attributes and qualitative traits of the Fengtian 188 (sweet corn hybrid) under the agro-ecological conditions of the Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) region.Results demonstrated that early sowing (25th April) significantly enhanced yield component including cob weight and kernel weight, whereas high planting density (4000 plants/667 m 2 , PD3) was optimal for improving qualitative traits like sugar and vitamin C content.Early sowing (25th April) combined with moderate to high planting density improved yield attributes like cob weight and kernel weight, while late sowing (25th May) with high density enhanced sugar and starch accumulation.Therefore, the optimal combination depends on whether the production goal prioritizes yield or nutritional quality.These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing sweet corn cultivation practices in the HHH region and similar agro-climatic areas.