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Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati-517 502.
A field experiment was conducted at dryland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, during kharif, 2023 on sandy loam soils. The experiment was laid down in FRBD and replicated thrice, assessed the effects of organic manures and foliar nutrition on sweet corn (variety Tang 75). The treatments included three organic manure combinations: M1 (Green manuring with sunhemp + 50% N through FYM + biofertilizer consortium), M2 (Green manuring with sunhemp + 50% N through poultry manure + biofertilizer consortium), and M3 (Green manuring with sunhemp + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through poultry manure + biofertilizer consortium), and three foliar sprays: F1 (Seaweed extract @ 1%), F2 (Waste decomposer), and F3 (Panchagavya @ 5%). Results revealed that the application of M2 significantly enhanced green cob and green fodder yields compared to other treatments, among the foliar sprays, F1 achieved the highest yields, while F3 was statistically on par to F2. Treatment M2 also notably improved nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake, as well as soil microbial populations (bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes). Statistically M1 and M3 treatments were on parity with each other. Seaweed extract (F1) resulted in the greatest nutrient uptake, whereas waste decomposer (F2) and panchagavya (F3) were comparable but less effective in nutrient enhancement compared to F1. Post-harvest soil analysis showed that M1 had the highest levels of available nutrients, followed by M3 and M2. Based on an economic analysis, M2 had the best benefit-cost ratio, as well as the highest gross and net returns.
KEYWORDS: Sweet corn, Organic Manures, Foliar Sprays, Biofertilizer consortium, Green manure crop, Gross Returns, Benefit-Cost Ratio.