Performance of baby corn genotypes under high rainfall conditions of Goa

Abstract

Baby corn (Zea mays L.) is a type of maize which is grown exclusively for its tender, fresh and finger-like cobs harvested at the time of silk emergence. It is a delicacy of five star hotels and its’ nutritive value can be compared with popular vegetables (Thakur, 5). There is a great potential for baby corn production in Goa as it is widely used in hotels and becoming popular even among Goans. It is a short duration crop which completes its life span within 60-75 days, so four crops in a year can easily be taken up. In addition to cobs, baby corn produces lush green and fresh stalks which are nutritious, succulent and highly palatable fodder for cattle. So, there is an ample scope to integrate baby corn with dairy farming which is common in Goa. The information on performance of baby corn on hill slopes/uplands under high rainfall conditions of Konkan region is not available. Hence, there is a great need to evaluate the performance of the crop and identify the most suitable varieties, which can come up well under intensive rainfall conditions of Goa.