Nitrogen and Water Effects on the Growth, Yield and Quality of Drip Irrigated Sweet Corn

Abstract

A complete factorial experiment using three nitrogen (44, 106 and 160 lbs N/acre) and three water rates (60, 100 and 130% consumptive use) examined the specific management criteria necessary for obtaining optimum yield and quality of drip -irrigated 'Jubilee' sweet coni. The crop was planted on I March and harvested on 10 June, with an 86 /50°F heat unit accumulation of 1738. When present, a nitrogen deficiency greatly decreased marketable yield, number of marketable ears/plant, mean ear weight, ear length and tip fill. Higher moisture rates generally had less effect on yield and quality than did N rates; however, increasing water rates significantly increased marketable yields and plant height, improved tip fill and lessened the occurrence of blank kernels. The effect of N and water rates on N and dry matter accumulation and on diagnostic plant tissue testing results for sweet corn are also presented. The maximum marketable yield obtained in this experiment was 7.8 tons per acre, using 160 lbs N/acre and 21.1 inches of irrigation water.