The Response of Sweet Corn to Foliar Spraying of Zinc and Boron in Different Stages of Growth in Terms of Morphological Characteristics, Yield Components and Yield of Grain and Ear

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Researcher, Horticulture Crops Research Department, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Iran, Hamedan

2 Academic Researcher, staff member of Soil and Water Research Department, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Hamedan, Iran

10.30466/asr.2025.55085.1837

Abstract

In recent years, sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) cultivation has expanded in Hamedan province for fresh consumption and processingDue to the high demand of sweet corn for zinc and boron, the effect of foliar spraying of these micronutrients (either combined or individually) at various stages of growth and development on morphological characteristics and traits related to ear and grain yield was studied. The experiment was carried out in split plots using a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2022 at the Ekbatan station of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Hamedan. Different stages of foliar spraying including vegetative growth (6-8 leaves), tasseling (beginning of reproductive growth), both stages of vegetative growth + tasseling, grain filling and both stages of vegetative growth + grain filling were placed in the main plots and micronutrient treatments including the control (distilled water), boron, zinc and boron+zinc were placed in sub-plots. Boric acid (containing 17% B) was used as a foliar application of boron, and zinc sulfate (containing 23% Zn) was used for zinc. The chosen cultivar was the Basin hybrid. The combined foliar spraying of boron and zinc at both stages of vegetative growth + tasseling resulted in the highest number of grains per row and rows per ear (43.9 and 17.7 unit, respectively), wet ear yield (43803 kg ha-1) and grain extraction from cob (37.8%). . This treatment also showed favorable ear length and diameter (improtant for processing and fresh consumption with 29.7 and 4.67 cm, respectively. Therefor, it is recommended to use the combined foliar spraying of boron and zinc micronutrients at both stage of the 6-8 leaf and the beginning of reproductive growth, to improve traits related to the processing and fresh consumption of sweet corn as well as improve grain extraction percentage, yield components and grain and ear yield.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 January 2024
  • Revise Date: 05 August 2024
  • Accept Date: 10 August 2024

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