Sustainable intensification in smallholder systems requires optimising nutrient inputs and plant population to enhance productivity while maintaining soil health. In eastern India, baby corn (Zea mays L.) is gaining importance as a cash crop, yet region-specific recommendations on integrated nutrient management (INM) and plant spacing are limited. This study investigates the combined effects of integrated nutrient management and plant spacing on baby corn growth, yield, and soil health in Odisha, India. A field experiment was conducted at the Krusheka Agriculture Research Centre in Dhenkanal, Odisha, in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) across a 1088 m² area. Seven nutrient treatments, ranging from purely organic to inorganic and integrated (including organic+gibberellic acid and NPK + NPK+micronutrients), were tested alongside two plant spacing (45 ×18 cm and 45 ×28 cm). Data on growth parameters, yield components, and soil nutrient properties were collected before sowing and after harvest. Integrated treatment combination NPK + Gibberellic acid (N7) under dense spacing (S2) produced the highest yield (4.43 tonnes/ha). Significant differences in plant height across treatments and spacing levels are recorded at 42 and 72 DAS. Soil analyses revealed improved nutrient availability under integrated regimes. Post-harvest soil analysis confirmed improved nutrient retention under organic treatments. These findings support the adoption of integrated nutrient strategies and optimal spacing for sustainable baby corn cultivation. This research provides localised, empirical evidence to guide extension advisories and farmer adoption of INM and spacing strategies, advancing food security and agro-ecosystem resilience in comparable contexts.
Panda et al. (Fri,) studied this question.