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Miscellaneous

Baby Corn

Introduction :

Baby corn is a variety of corn/maize grown extensively for salad making and vegetable soup purpose. The young, finger like ears are harvested when they are fresh just after or before the emergence of silk. The cobs are most delicate, tender, sweet having a pleasant flavor. In countries like Taiwan, Guatemala, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, U.S.A. baby corn cultivation is successful on commercial scale. In India it is being introduced and becoming popular in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, U.P., Haryana, Maharashtra. Harvesting of the cob is possible within 40-45 days after sowing (DAS) which in turn makes it possible to increase the cropping intensity (about 6-7 crops in a year).

In Sikkim 40.85 thousand ha of land is under maize cultivation. A part of the present maize area may be brought under baby corn cultivation so as to get the maximum benefit and profit. One hectare crop requires investment about Rs.20000 and gives a net profit of Rs.60, 000-80,000.

After harvest of baby corn, the crop provides green, soft, nutritious, succulent and palatable fodder having higher digestibility.

Composition:
 

Component Percentage per 100 gm baby corn
Water 89.5 %
Carbohydrate 8.2 gm
Protein 1.9 gm
Fat 0.2 gm
Calcium 28 mg
Phosphorus 86 mg
Iron 0.11 mg
Riboflavin 0.008 mg
Ascorbic Acid 11 mg
Thymine 0.05 mg

Climate:
It can not stand too high or too cold temperature. 200 C to 32 is ideal for its cultivation.

Soil:
Clay loam to sandy loam soil is best to grow baby corn. The pH range should be 6-7 is ideal for its cultivation. Alkaline and acidic sols are now suitable for baby corn cultivation.

Manures: As Sikkim is going to be an Organic State, only organic manures are allowed to apply. The following manures may be applied:

• Humus Plus : 750 to 1000 kg/acre
• Urbara 60 : 500-750 kg/acre
• Biomix : 750-8000 kg/acre

Seed rate: 15-16 kg/acre or 35-40 kg/ha is optimum for its cultivation.

Spacing:

Plant to plant (P-P) distance : 2.5 feet
Row to Row (R-R) distance : 10-12 cm

Varieties:

Yield of baby corn cultivars being grown in India:


 

Variety Yield (Rs./ha) Green Fodder
With Husk Without Husk Tonnes/ha
Golden Baby 9423 1803 17.55
PAC 792 9962 2571 29.90
PAC 793 10458 2213 47.36
Pro-Agro. 4642 9740 2195 34.50
Shakti 10159 2559 27.26


Source: B.K. Ramchandrappa et. al. (2004) Prod. & Manag. for profitable Baby Corn cultivar Indian Farming 2004, I.C.A.R., New Delhi.

Sowing: The land is prepared after incorporating the well rotted farm yard manure @ 50-70 quintal with soil; the seeds are sown in the field.

Irrigation: The soil moisture should be in proper state. After sowing of the seeds, the irrigation should be given 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days.

Harvesting: Baby corn can be harvested after 50-60 days of sowing. From one plant 2-3 cobs can be obtained.