There is a lack of information regarding nitrogen and potassium fertilization on the production of baby corn. When ears are collected before grain formation, the amounts of required nutrients can be differentiated. This study evaluated the response of baby corn at different nitrogen and potassium fertilization rates in a medium texture soil in the region of Maringá PR Brazil. Data for adequate nutrient recommendation are produced for the crop, avoiding losses and environmental contamination. The experiment was conducted in the Iguatemi Experimental Farm during the summer harvest of 2010-2011 and the second corn crop of 2011. The experiment was arranged in a 4x4 factorial randomized block design with a, with 4 rates of nitrogen (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg ha-1) and 4 rates of potassium (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1), with 50% applied at seeding and 50% topdressed at the V6 development stage. The popcorn triple hybrid cultivar IAC 125 was used in the experiment. The results showed that potassium and the interaction NK did not influence plant height and length of commercial ears. Maximum babycorn yield was achieved with 64.35 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. The combination of the rates 60.9 of nitrogen and 51.23 kg ha-1 of potassiumprovided the highest yield in the second corn crop of baby corn.
Zea mays L.; fertilization; yield components
