Research and technology Transfer of Baby corn Production of the Non-Detasseled Single-Cross Hybrid KBSC 605 to the Pro

Research Title : Research and technology Transfer of Baby corn Production of the Non-Detasseled Single-Cross Hybrid KBSC 605 to the Pro

Researcher : Dr.chokechai Aekatasanawan

Office : Kasetsart university

Research Grants : Research and Innovation for Transfer technology to Rural Community Project

Year : 2010

Abstract

Baby corn is the second economic industrial vegetable crop and Thailand is the world’s largest baby corn exporter more than 30 years. The Objectives of this research were to 1) study the seed production technique of the non-detasseled baby corn single-cross hybrid KBSC 605, 2) study the socio-economic situation of baby corn production of farmers, 3) transfer the baby corn production technology of the non-detasseled baby corn single-cross hybrid KBSC 605 for processing to farmers and 4) distribute the research knowledge of baby corn of Kasetsart University to farmers and the processing plant.

The seed production testing of the non-detasseled baby corn single-cross hybrid KBSC 605 using five spacings, i.e. 75×10 cm (17066 plants/rai), 75×12.5 cm (13653 plants/rai), 75×15 cm (11377 plants/rai) 75×17.5cm(9752 plants/rai) and 75×20 cm (8533 plants/rai) were compared in a randomized complete block design with four replications at the National Corn and Sorghum Research Center in two crops of the 2009 dry season (December 2008 – April 2009) and 2009 late rainy season (August – November ). The male and female parental inbreds of KBSC 605 were Pac 421-S₁₄ -223#2 and Ki28 cms (cytoplasmic male sterility), respectively. The male :female row ratio was 1:4 by planting the female row before the male rows five days. From results, the 75×10 cm spacing gave the highest seed yield of 345.2 kg/rai (10% seed moisture content) in the first crop and 394.0 kg/rai (12% seed moisture content) different from the other spacing (P<0.01) in the second crop. It possessed seed germination of 95.7 and 92.8%, respectively.

The socio-economic situation of baby corn production of farmers in Krasiew area, Nong Yasai district, Suphanburi province in the 2009 crop year was concluded as follow: 1) farmers planted sugarcane and rice as the main crop. The average of occupied areas per family was 18.11 rais. They had the average of experience in baby corn production of 4.37years and family size of 4 members. The area was suitable for baby corn production and they planted baby corn as the additional economic crop in cropping system due to its short maturity which could grow 4-5 crops per years. They used seeds of 5.00 kg/rai of the popular hybrid Pacific 271 which needed detasseling because of its male fertility. All of farmers applied in the maximum rate of 112.5 kg/rai which caused high production cost. Labor was important in most of production activities in the total of 19.5 man days/rai mainly, i.e. soil and ridge preparation, harvest, irrigation, husking, detasseling and planting by 30.15, 17.95, 15.38, 13.59, 10.26 and 7.54%, respectively. The average tatal cost of production was 5640 bath/rai/crop. Productioncost was affected by labor and machinery cost of 58.78% mainly, i.e. soil and ridge preparation, harvest, irrigation, husking, detasseling and planting by 17.73, 10.55, 9.04, 7.98, 6.03 and 4.43% respectively. The other production factor were 41.22% of the total costs mainly, i.e. manure/chemical fertilizers, seeds, electricity for irrigation and herbicides of 18.62, 9.31, 7.05 and 5.14%, respectively. The total income was 7276 bath/rai, i.e. baby corn ears, plants, husks and tassels income by 74.71, 13.74, 6.87 and 4.67%, respectively. The average baby corn yield was 302 kg/rai with the price of 18 baht/kg and its income was 5436 baht/rai. The average net income was 1636 baht/rai. Farmers had contracts of baby corn production with the processing plant by 93.75%. Compared with the 2008 crop year, the planting areas of baby corn in 2009 were increased, fixed and decreased by 66.67, 20.00 and 13.33%, respectively. The trends of baby corn production were fixed and increased by 57.14 and 48.66%. The decision of baby corn planting in each year depended on the price of the competition crops, i.e. sugarcane and cassava by 40.00%. Most of farmers (93.33%) were not interested in demonstration in their farms because of small planting areas. However, the other farmers were interested in demonstration on variety testing and soil improvement by 88.89, 66.67 and 11.11%, respectively. Farmers had the production problems of 64.71%, i.e. insuffucuent fund, lick of labor, high seed cost, high fertilizer price and diseases and insects in the same proportion of 11.77%. They also had the market problem of 27.27% due to low price and low yield quality by 11.77 and 5.88, respectively. Nevertheless, 11.77% of farmers had no both production and market problems.

The technology transfer of baby corn production in the 2009 crop year were performed in Krasiew area, Nong Yasai district, Suphanburi province, Wangkwai area, Nong Prue district, Kanchanaburi province and Ban Rai district, Uthaithani province. Results showed that KBSC 605 gave an average standard yield of the 3 areas (285.67 kg/rai) higher than the target of 250 kg/rai by 14.27%. The average standard yields of Krasiew area (320.00 kg/rai) and the 3 areas were higher than those of the 2008 crop year by 59.28 and 43.32%, respectively, resulted in farmers’ net income increasing (2143.80 and 1554.12 baht/rai) higher than the target of 20% (880 baht/rai). KBSC 605 showed high yield in Krasiew and Ban Rai. Compared with the conventional production technology (data from the extension of the Agro-on (Thailand) Co.) in the 2009 crop year, the production technology of KBSC 605 gave the total income (9900 baht/rai) higher than the conventional production technology (7900 baht/rai) and the target by 25.32 and 14.18%, respectively, it also had lower production cost (5300 baht/rai) by 6.03% because of non-detasselling in KBSC 605 and provided the net income (4600 baht/rai) high than those of the conventional production technology (2260 baht/rai) and the target by 103.54 and 73.97%, respectively.

In conclusion, the seed production of KBSC 605 was lower cost than the conventional seed production due to non-datasseling in the male-sterile inbred. The recommended spacing for its high seed yield per rai was 75×10 cm. KBSC 605 had high yield potential in farmers’ fields especially for Krasiew and Ban Rai areas. Moreover, it possessed high fresh plant weight including husk and silk suitable for selling or using as high nutritional forage for cattle. The production technology transfer using outstanding farmers as model could create baby corn production network by cooperating with the processing plant for the successful management of production and market to plan for the optimum quantity and the quality of the products. The seed production technology of KBSC 605 will reduce cost of seed production. The baby corn production technology of KBSC 605 will also reduce the production cost and increase net income of farmers. Both technologies will support Thailand sustainable the first world leader in baby corn production especially for variety and export.