ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Home⇛Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives⇛vol. 3 no. 9 (2025)

Yield and Postharvest Quality of Glutinous Corn (Zea Mays L.) in Response to Bio-Pesticides and Plastic Mulch Applied

Francis M. Galon

Discipline: agricultural sciences

 

Abstract:

This study evaluated the effects of corn variety, plastic mulch application, and different biopesticide combinations on the yield and postharvest quality of glutinous corn (Zea mays L.) under wet and dry season conditions. Two varieties, Klasika and Sweet Purple, were tested along with treatments involving plastic mulch and four bio-pesticide combinations. Results showed that Klasika consistently produced longer and heavier ears with higher yields compared to Sweet Purple, although differences in some parameters were not statistically significant. Dry season planting resulted in significantly better performance across most measured traits, including ear weight, yield, and insect damage, compared to the wet season, which was characterized by unfavorable weather conditions such as typhoons. Plastic mulch negatively affected ear production and increased insect damage during the wet season but had minimal impact during the dry season. Among bio-pesticide treatments, simpler applications of crop vaccine or biopesticide alone generally outperformed combinations with micronutrients, leading to higher yields and better postharvest quality, such as total soluble solids and shelf life. The study suggests that selecting the Klasika variety, planting during the dry season, and using simpler bio-pesticide treatments without plastic mulch during the wet season can optimize glutinous corn production and quality. These findings provide valuable guidance for farmers and stakeholders aiming to improve corn productivity while managing costs and environmental conditions effectively.



References:

  1. Ali, M., Hussain, A., & Mahmood, A. (2021). Impact of plastic mulch on crop growth and yield in dryland agriculture. Soil and Environment, 40(1), 37–44.  
  2. Ali, M., Shah, M. J., Ullah, A., & Khan, M. A. (2021). Influence of mulching and irrigation regimes on postharvest shelf life of sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Agricultural Water Management, 255, 107021.  
  3. Baffour-Ata, F., Yeboah, S., & Owusu-Darko, R. (2021). Efficacy of bio-pesticides on the growth and yield of maize in Ghana. Agriculture & Food Security, 10(1), 1–10.
  4. Bhattarai, R., Acharya, M., & Gautam, D. M. (2021). Effect of seasonal variation and variety on sugar content and quality parameters of sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Journal of Maize Research and Development, 7(1), 56–65.  
  5. Butay, J. S. (2019). Growth and yield performance of glutinous corn (Zea maize) as supplemented with carrageenan and fermented goat manure as bio-fertilizer. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 14(2), 156–165.
  6. Chen, Q., Wang, Y., Zhang, M., & Li, F. (2021). Synergistic and antagonistic effects of foliar nutrient sprays and biostimulants on maize quality under different environmental conditions. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 207(6), 1124–1135.  
  7. Comighud, S. M. (2020). Nutrient management and rate of biostimulant on hybrid glutinous corn. IJRDO - Journal of Agriculture and Research, 6(5), 1–10.    
  8. El-Naggar, A., Ahmed, N., Zaki, M., & El-Sayed, M. (2022). Impact of biostimulants and micronutrient combinations on maize productivity under different environmental conditions. Agronomy, 12(4), 871.  
  9. INNSPUB. (2022, July 4). Efficacy of rhizome crude extracts organic pesticide against insect pests.  
  10. Iqbal, M., Rehman, A., Ali, L., & Ali, M. (2021). Comparative performance of maize cultivars under varied environmental stresses: Implications for yield stability. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 40(2), 1127–1138.  
  11. Islam, M. A., Ferdous, Z., Rahman, M. A., & Hasanuzzaman, M. (2021). Morphological and yield performance of hybrid maize as influenced by sowing dates and planting density. Agronomy, 11(1), 86.  
  12. Ju, H., Zhang, Y., & Li, F. (2020). Effects of plastic film mulching on soil temperature and maize growth in a semi-arid region. Agricultural Water Management, 233, 106080.
  13. Kaur, M., Singh, S., & Sandhu, K. S. (2022). Performance of different maize hybrids under varying environmental conditions. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology, 25(3), 255–264.  
  14. Kumar, R., Yadav, V., & Mishra, S. (2023). Synergistic effects of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on growth and yield of maize under stress conditions. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 209(1), 45–54.    
  15. Lal, M., Singh, R., & Verma, P. (2020). Impact of bio-pesticides and organic amendments on growth performance of maize. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 23(4), 765–770.
  16. Lamichhane, J. R., Dachbrodt-Saaydeh, S., Kudsk, P., & Messéan, A. (2020). Biological control and plant health: A review of the role of natural biocontrol agents in postharvest disease management. Plant Protection Science, 56(1), 1–15.  
  17. Liu, X., Huang, B., Zhao, J., & Zhou, Q. (2022). Impacts of plastic film mulching on maize productivity and ear quality under varying rainfall conditions. Field Crops Research, 283, 108517.
  18. Nawaz, A., Sarwar, M., Sattar, A., Wakeel, A., Anwar, M. R., & Zahir, Z. A. (2021). Seasonal variation impacts on maize productivity under different agronomic practices in South Asia. Field Crops Research, 261, 108011.  
  19. Nepal Journals Online. (2024). Evaluation of efficacy of certain pesticides and black plastic mulch on cucumber. International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 12(1), 1–10. Retrieved from
  20. Nguyen, M. T., Pham, H. T., & Tran, Q. T. (2020). Biostimulant effect of crop vaccine on the growth, yield, and biochemical attributes of maize under variable weather conditions. Heliyon, 6(8), e04733.  
  21. Ojuederie, O. B., Ayilara, M. S., & Saberi, M. (2021). Biopesticides as a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 1040901.
  22. Raza, A., Razzaq, A., Mehmood, S. S., Zou, X., Zhang, X., Lv, Y., & Xu, J. (2020). Impact of climate change on crops adaptation and strategies to tackle its outcome: A review. Plants, 9(11), 1342.
  23. Santos, L. M., Javier, C. R., & de Guzman, A. P. (2022). Evaluating the efficacy of crop vaccines and bio-fertilizers in maize production. Philippine Journal of Crop Science, 47(3), 210–218. 
  24. Shah, A., Nadeem, F., & Anwar, M. (2021). Influence of plastic mulch on phenological traits and yield in maize under varying environmental conditions. Field Crops Research, 271, 108261.
  25. Silva, D. F., Souza, T. A., & Lima, J. M. (2023). Evaluating maize yield potential under changing climatic conditions: A modeling and field-based approach. Climatic Change, 176(3), 17.  
  26. Timsina, J., Jat, M. L., & Majumdar, K. (2019). Agronomic performance of maize hybrids under different production environments in South Asia. Field Crops Research, 236, 39–47.  
  27. Wahyu, A., Sudirman, M. T. F., Ernawati, N. M. L., & Muthahanas, I. (2025). Optimization of growth and yield of glutinous corn with the application of ameliorant formulation plus mycorrhiza on sandy soil. Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research, 12(1), 83–94. 
  28. Wang, L., Zhang, Y., Chen, H., & Li, Y. (2022). Effects of plastic mulch on maize yield and soil environment under different moisture conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 261, 107358.   
  29. Xu, X., Liu, Y., Zhang, C., & Yang, Y. (2020). Plastic film mulching influences soil moisture and yield in maize cropping systems under varying rainfall regimes. Agricultural Water Management, 238, 106211.  
  30. Yang, H., Liu, R., Zhao, T., & Feng, Y. (2020). Effect of seasonal stress on non-marketable maize ear production in hybrid varieties. Agricultural Systems, 178, 102736.
  31. Zewdu, A., Wondimu, Y., & Abera, G. (2022). Effect of agronomic practices and storage conditions on the postharvest quality of sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata). Journal of Postharvest Technology, 10(1), 45–54.  
  32. Zhang, X., Liu, Y., Zhao, H., & Yu, C. (2021). Seasonal variation in growth and yield performance of hybrid maize under different agronomic practices. Field Crops Research, 270, 108224.  
  33. Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Wang, X., & Liu, H. (2023). Effect of plastic mulch residue on plant growth performance and soil properties. Environmental Pollution, 316, 120456.  
  34. Zhang, Y., Wang, P., Liu, L., & Chen, X. (2022). Effects of plastic film mulching on soil temperature, moisture, and crop performance: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Water Management, 261, 107379.  
  35. Zhou, J., Zhang, W., Wang, P., & Liu, Y. (2021). Effects of plastic mulching on sugar accumulation and yield of sweet corn under varying moisture regimes. Agricultural Water Management, 249, 106794.  

Tools


Copyright © 2025   ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø