Effect of irrigation norm and sowing date on yield components and quality of sweet corn in Serbia

Research on the influence of sowing date, hybrids, and irrigation regime on the productive and qualitative characteristics of sweet corn was conducted during two growing seasons (2022 and 2023). The experiment was set up according to a randomized complete block design in four replications, with three fixed factors: date of sowing (D: first: end of April/beginning of May and second: mid-July), hybrid (H: Enterprise F1 and Union F1) and irrigation regime (I: control - natural moistening, 50% and 100% of full norm) and a random factor of year (Y). The hybrid Enterprise achieved the highest total ear weight (392.47 g), shelling percentage (up to 70.44%) and protein content (4.12%), while the Union hybrid had the highest dry matter content (up to 40.54%). At the full irrigation norm the highest values are as follows total ear weight up to 392.47 g, shelling percentage up to 70.44%, kernel depth up to 1.27 cm, dry matter up to 40.54% and protein content up to 4.12%. The best results were achieved with the first sowing date and the Enterprise hybrid at the full irrigation norm in the more favorable year of 2022.