Seed bio-priming of baby corn emerged as a viable strategy for reducing mineral fertilizer use and increasing productivity

Abstract

The aims of this study were to boost growth, yield and yield attributes of baby corn and reducing fertilizer application by different treatment combination of mineral fertilizers doses and various seed priming biological agents. Microbial intervention is widely accepted as one of the ways of reducing chemical fertilization. Here, we evaluated the effects of seeds bio-priming with (Trichoderma viride (TV), Frateuria aurentia (FA) and Glomus intraradices (GI)) on cultivation of baby corn (Zea mays L.) in a pot experiment under net house condition. Our results confirmed the significant positive effect of seed bio-priming (TV + GI) along with 75% recommended dose (RDF) of NPK fertilizer on vegetative growth and yield attributes as compared to rest of the treatments. Hence, the treatment combination of T. viride + G. intraradices along with 75% RDF may be used as more effective combination for baby corn production. Thus, results concluded that use of efficient microbes will reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizer to obtain potential baby corn productivity