Effect of Tassel Removal for Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) Production in Kentucky

<p>Baby corn <em>(Zea mays L.)</em> consists of unfertilized young ears harvested at silk<br />emergence. The 2011 study was a culmination of four successive years of production<br />and evaluation of baby corn at Western Kentucky University (36.93 N, 86.47 W). The<br />objective was to compare the effect of tassel removal on baby corn (BC) production on<br />four cultivars of corn, two field (‘N77P-3000GT’, ‘N68B-3000GT’) and two sweet<br />(‘Silver Queen’, ‘Peaches N Cream’). Results indicated that tassel removal gave<br />significant increases (P<0.01) of BC ears across harvests (H) and cultivars; however, the effect was not consistent over treatments. For harvests, the difference due to detasseling was significant (P<0.05) for H2 and H3, but not significant (P>0.05) for H1 or H4. For cultivars, numerical values were higher for detasseled than non-detasseled treatments in the first three harvests for each cultivar, but significant (P<0.05) only for ‘Peaches n’ Cream’. Quality of BC from both tassel treatments decreased in H3 and H4. Based upon the increased number of ears resulting from detasseling, additional labor costs would be more than covered. Baby corn has excellent potential as a niche crop for producers and consumers in Central Kentucky.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Agriculture

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Ferguson, Christopher G.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Elmer Gray, Director, Dr. Martin J. Stone, Dr. William T. Willian

• Detassel corn
• Corn yield
• Agriculture

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1157

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2159