Effect of sources and levels of nutrients on growth and yield behaviour of pop corn (Zea mays) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) sequence

A field experiment was conducted during 200809 and 200910 at New Delhi, to study the effect of organic sources of nutrients on growth, yield and yield attributes of pop porn (Z ea mays averta Sturt)-potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping system. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations with 8 treatments in pop corn [control, recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (N P K kg/ha), farmyard manure equivalent to120 kg N/ 120 25 35 ha (FYM ), leaf compost equivalent to 120 kg N/ha (LC ), vermicompost equivalent to 120 kg N/ha (VC ), 120 120 120 farmyard manure equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (FYM ), leaf compost equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (LC ) and 90 90 vermicompost equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (VC )] and 3 treatments in potato crop [control, farmyard manure equiva- 90 lent to 60 kg N/ha (FYM ) and farmyard manure equivalent to 90 kg N/ha (FYM )]. The application of RDF 60 90 (N P K kg/ha) recorded significantly highest plant height, leaf-area index and dry matter with higher values of 120 25 35 yield attributes, viz. cob length and girth, cobs/ha over the control. Application of vermicompost equivalent to 120 kg N/ha was the best source and remained at par with VC , FYM , FYM and N P K kg/ha for growth and 90 120 90 120 25 35 yield attributes of pop corn. Similar trend in respect of grain and stover yield was also found. Due to residual fertil- ity of FYM (equivalent to 120 kg N/ha) potato recorded the highest plant height, LAI, number of haulms and dy matter in haulms. Both FYM (equivalent to 90 kg/ha) and vermicompost (equivalent to 120 kg N/ha) exhibited the effects similar to FYM @ 120 kg N/ha. The yield and yield attributes of potato, viz. tubers/hill, fresh and dry weight of tubers, tuber yield and haulm yield also exhibited similar trend. Regarding direct effects of FYM, application of FYM equivalent to 90 kg N/ha in potato recorded the higher plant height, LAI, haulms/hill, dry matter in haulms; and yield and yield attributes compared to FYM equivalent 60 kg N/ha and control.