Background: The study on the effect of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata L.) to varying tillage methods and seaweed bio-stimulant application was carried out at the Experimental Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SAS, Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland during Kharif season of 2021-2022. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in the split-plot design (SPD). The treatment consisted of three tillage practices (conventional tillage, minimum tillage and zero tillage) in the main-plots while sub-plots received two different types of seaweed-sap from species i.e. Kappaphycus alvarezii (K-Sap) and Sargassum wightii (S-Sap) with three concentrations (5, 10 and 15%) used for seed treatment followed by foliar spray at three different stages of crop growth. 
 
Result: Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the tillage practices and concentration and species of seaweed sap for maximum traits under studied. Growth attributes, yield attributes and yield was found to be significantly higher in CT as compared to MT and ZT at all crop stages. Similarly application of S-Sap upto 10% concentration resulted in significantly higher values as over K-Sap.

Response of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata L.) to Varying Tillage Methods and Seaweed Bio-stimulant Application

<div>Background: Recognizing the adverse impact of excessive use of chemicals on soil health, human health and environment, Government is promoting production of organic crops, fruits and vegetables etc. through various schemes. Demand for organic food items is also on the rise during the last few years. Number of cow-based bio-enhancers and botanicals have been developed by innovative organic growers/ associations and NGOs. But very meagre scientific information is available regarding such formulations. Hence, to incorporate these products in organic farming module, the present experiment was conducted. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted in summer season of 2017 to 2019 at Junagadh, Gujarat, India with cow-based bio-enhancers (Panchagavya, Bijamrut, Jivamrut, Amrutpani, Sanjivak and cow urine) and botanicals (Seaweed extract and Banana pseudo stem sap) in randomized block design with three replications. The cow-based formulations were prepared on farm as per the procedure given by National Centre for Organic Farming, Ghaziabad and botanicals viz., banana pseudo stem extract and seaweed extract (Kappaphycus alvarezii) were obtained from Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari and Junagadh Agricultural University, Okha. 
 
Result: The results revealed that application of FYM @ 5 t/ha significantly enhanced growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, number of branches/plant, number and dry weight of nodules/plant, number of mature pods/plant, pod weight/plant and shelling percentage and ultimately produced significantly higher pod (1823 kg/ha) and haulm (3270 kg/ha) yields, followed by Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (1582 and 2846 kg/ha) and seaweed extract as foliar spray @ 3.5% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS (1423 and 2570 kg/ha). Application of FYM, Panchagavya and seaweed extract also increased uptake of NPK by pod and haulm over the control, while different treatments failed to affect the post-harvest soil fertility except available P which is higher under FYM, Jivamrut, Amrutpani and Sanjivak over the control. Overall, application of FYM and Panchagavya accrued higher net return of ₹ 55285 and ₹ 46229/ha with B:C of 2.21 and 2.12, respectively.</div>

Response of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata L.) to Varying Tillage Methods and Seaweed Bio-stimulant Application

Organic Cultivation of Summer Groundnut using Cow-based Bio-enhancers and Botanicals