Soil constraints and baseline performance of sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) under rainfed, no-input conditions in Manipur, Northeastern Hill region of India

Abstract

Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) production in Manipur, Northeastern Hill Region of India, is constrained by acidic, clay-textured soils, erratic monsoon distribution, and low inherent nitrogen availability. This short note characterizes the pre-crop soil properties, growing-season weather, and unfertilized baseline agronomic performance of sweet corn (cv. Golden Cob) at the Integrated Farming System Research Field, Central Agricultural University, Imphal (Kharif 2025; 24.81°N, 93.88°E; 780 m MSL). The initial soil characteristics showed high acidity (pH 5.71), clay texture (64.61% clay), moderate organic carbon (0.71%), and low availability of nitrogen (213.37 kg ha-1). Total rainfall during the growing season was 636.4 mm in AugustSeptember. In the no-input treatment, sweet corn produced a yield of 98.53 q ha-1 of fresh cob production and 198.01 q ha-1 of green stover, with delayed phenology (tasseling 67.33 days and silking 71.00 days). These baseline data establish a documented productivity floor for nutrient-responsive experimental comparisons and provide a reference for agro-advisory development in rainfed NEH systems.