INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC AND BIO - MULCHING ON WEED MANAGEMENT IN BABY CORN CULTIVATION

Abstract

Baby corn is the dehusked maize ear, harvested within 2-3 days of silking, i.e. prior to
fertilization (Pandey et al., 1998). It is a genotype of Zea mays L. Babycorn cultivation
provides tremendous avenues for diversification, value addition and revenue generation.
After successful venture in many South-East Asian countries, it is gaining fast popularity in
Indian market too, particularly in metropolitan cities. Good quality and higher green-fodder
yield for its cultivation adds enormously to total economic returns besides higher profit per
unit area, compared with green maize. Babycorn is used in a variety of traditional and
continental dishes besides being canned. It has high nutritive value comparable to many
vegetables (ParodaShashi, 1994). Babycorn, being a relatively new introduction in our
country requires the development of suitable production technology in realizing higher yield
and monetary returns before it could be popularized among the growers. Depending on agro
climatic conditions, 3-4 crops of babycorn are taken in a year recording high returns.