Effect of vermicompost application timing on growth and development of hybrid corn (zea mays L.) under field conditions

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vermicompost application timing on the growth and development of the hybrid sweet corn Rong Vang F1 under field conditions. The experiment consisted of six treatments (Trt), among which Treatment 3 (application of 200 g vermicompost at 20 days after sowing) showed superior performance. Results indicated that Treatment 3 achieved the highest plant height (196.82 cm), the greatest number of leaves (13.32 leaves), the largest stem diameter (2.71 cm), and the shortest time to tasseling (45.26 days) and silking (48.53 days). In terms of yield components, Treatment 3 produced the longest ear length (31.25 cm), the largest ear diameter (5.91 cm), the highest number of kernel rows per ear (15.86), the greatest number of kernels per row (38.33), and the highest 1000-kernel weight (493.36 g). These findings confirm the effectiveness of vermicompost in organic sweet corn cultivation.