SOWING AND PLANTING PERIOD ON YIELD AND EAR QUALITY OF SWEET CORN (Zea mays L. var. saccharata)

Abstract

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) attracts people with its amazing flavour. Adverse environmental factors decrease plant's cob yield and quality. A more effective production can be made by using resistant varieties and adjusting the sowing and plating periods. In this study, the effect of direct seed sowing and cultivating with seedlings in three different times (5, 15 and 25 May) on the sweet corn's cob yield and certain quality features have been investigated. In the research hybrid sweet corn varieties; 2201, Challenger, Merit, Sunshine and Yellow Baby were used. Ear weight, ear yield, ear length, ear diameter, sequence in ear, kernel numbers in the sequence, dry weight, TSS, chroma and hue values have been identified in the study. The values obtained from cultivation with seedling have been found higher in all of the parameters except for TSS. With the progress of cultivation period while TSS and hue values in kernels have increased (9.72 to 20.94) chroma values have decreased. Husked ear weight values have changed between 184.69 to 224.11 g in varieties. The highest ear yield (3594.33 kg da(-1)) has been obtained from Merit by seedling planting cultivation on 15 May.