Field experiment was conducted at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Center, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India during rabi season of 2013-14 to study the effect of planting geometry and nutrient management on quality production of baby corn (Zea mays L.). The experimental site was sandy loam in texture with neutral pH (6.85), medium in organic carbon (0.625), in available nitrogen (269.28 kg/ha), available phosphorus (24.56 kg/ha) and available potassium (226.64 kg/ha). The experiment consisted of 12 treatments having planting geometry (45cm × 15cm, 45cm × 20cm, 60cm × 15cm and 60cm × 20cm) and 3 nutrient management practices (N1 :120:60:40, N2 :150:75:50 and N3 :180:90:60 :: N:P2 05 :K2 0 kg/ha) was laid out in split plot design with three replication. The variety of baby corn was VL Baby Corn-1 developed from VPKAS, Almora. The crop was planted on 23-10-13 and 1st picking was taken on 4th January and last on 14th January 2014. The crop grown under 60cm × 15cm planting geometry had 22.32%, 9.65% and 14.98% higher cob yield than 45cm × 15cm, 45cm × 20cm and 60cm × 20cm planting geometries, respectively. Similarly baby corn yield was recorded significantly higher at 60cm × 15cm planting geometry with 1.9%, 17.3% and 24.7% higher than 45cm × 20cm, 60cm × 20cm and 45cm × 15cm planting geometries, respectively. Das et al. (2009) also reported similar results. The green fodder yield was recorded significantly higher under 45cm × 15 cm followed by 45cm × 20cm mainly because of higher plant population. The TSS and protein did not influence significant by planting geometries. Significantly higher net return and B:C ratio were also recorded at 60cm × 15cm followed by 45cm × 20cm planting geometry. application of 180 kg N+ 90 kg P2 O5 + 60 kg K2 O gave significantly higher values of Abstract Keywords cob and baby corn yield, quality attributes and also economics. Application of 180:90:60 gave 1.5% and 9.5% higher baby corn yield than 150:75:50 and 120:60:40, respectively. It also gave higher TSS, protein content, net profit and also B:C ratio. It is therefore recommended that planting of baby corn at 60cm × 15cm geometry fertilized with 180kg N+90kg P2 O5 +60kg K2 O /ha would have higher productivity, profitability and better quality of baby corn production.

Keywords: Baby Corn; B:C Ratio; Economics; Protein; TSS; Quality.