Effect of Boron on Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) Varieties

Abstract

At the Department of Agronomy's Crop Research Farm, SHUATS, Prayagraj, a field experiment was carried out in the month of Zaid 2022. (U.P). The soil in the experimental plot had a sandy loam texture, a pH of 7.1 that was almost neutral, a low level of organic carbon (0.36%), and low availability of the nutrients N, P, K (171.48 kg/ha, 15.2 kg/ha, and 232.5 kg/ha, respectively). Ten treatments, each replicated three times, were used in the experiment, which was set up using a randomised block design over the course of a year. The treatments which are T1: Sugar-75 + 0.1 % boron foliar application, T2: Sugar-75 + 0.2 % boron foliar application, T3: Sugar-75 + 0.3 % boron foliar application, T4: Madhuri + 0.1 % boron foliar application, T5: Madhuri + 0.2 % boron foliar application, T6: Madhuri + 0.3 % boron foliar application, T7: Misthi + 0.1 % boron foliar application, T8: Misthi + 0.2 % boron foliar application, T9: Misthi + 0.3 % boron foliar application, T10: Control - N:P:K-120:60:40(kg/ha) are used. The results showed that treatment T9-Misthi + 0.3% boron foliar application was recorded significantly higher growth parameters like Plant height (175.5 cm), Plant dry weight (141.6 g/plant) at 80 DAS and highest Crop growth rate (22.1 g/m2/day) at 60-80 DAS. However, yield attributes and yield parameters like No. of Cobs/plant (1.81), No. of Grains/Cob (617.7), No. of Rows/cob (14.37), Seed index (68.4 g), cob length (18.5 cm), Grain yield (9.5 t/ha), Stover yield (15.4 t/ha) were recorded with the treatment T9-Misthi+ 0.3 % boron foliar application.

Boron Impact on Maize Growth and Yield: A Review

“…Additionally, Sai Ram and Dawson reported that application of 15 kg Zinc with B 1.5% as foliar spray recorded highest plant height [10]. Lastly, Kumar et al [9] found that treatment T9-Misthi + 0.3% B foliar application was recorded significantly higher plant height. These findings demonstrate the positive effect of B application on the growth and yield of maize plants, including plant height.…”

“…Another study found that treatment with Misthi variety and 0.3% B foliar application resulted in the highest cob length (18.5 cm) and grain yield (9.5 t/ha) [37]. Additionally, the application of 15 kg zinc with 1.5% B as a foliar spray recorded the highest number of grains per cob (523.93) and grain yield (6.33 t/ha) [9]. These findings suggest that B application, in combination with other nutrients, can enhance maize cob size and yield.…”

“…Treatment combinations of B with different levels of zinc and other nutrients resulted in increased cob length and weight. In one study, the treatment with B (4 kg/ha) and Panchagavya (2 sprays of 4%) produced the highest weight of cobs with husk (44.85g) and cob yield with husk (7.48 t/ha) [9]. Another study found that treatment with Misthi variety and 0.3% B foliar application resulted in the highest cob length (18.5 cm) and grain yield (9.5 t/ha) [37].…”

“…On another hand, B has been found to have an impact on the seed weight of maize. In one study, the application of B at a dose of 1.74 kg/ha resulted in the highest 1000-grain weight [9]. Another study found that the treatment with B at a concentration of 0.3% significantly increased the seed index of maize compared to the control treatment [47,48].…”

“…Foliar application of B has been shown to have significant benefits for maize plants. It has been found that foliar application of B can increase plant height, number of leaves per plant, dry weight of the plant, number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob, and yield parameters such as seed index, grain yield, and straw yield [9,10]. Additionally, foliar supplementation with B has been found to increase the activities of antioxidant enzymes, reduce stress markers, and stimulate root growth, resulting in a higher harvest index and yield [11].…”