Physiological Response of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) Cultivar Zeaton to Organic and Organo-Mineral Fertilization

Violeta Valcheva; Kostadin Kostadinov; Nadezhda  Shopova; Radoslav Chipilski

doi:10.7250/conect.2026.049

Physiological Response of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) Cultivar Zeaton to Organic and Organo-Mineral Fertilization

Authors

Violeta Valcheva Agricultural University – Plovdiv, AU, 12 Mendeleev Blvd, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Kostadin Kostadinov Agricultural University – Plovdiv, AU, 12 Mendeleev Blvd, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Nadezhda Shopova Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (CAWRI-BAS), 66 Blvd Tzarigradsko chausse, 1784, Sofia, Bulgaria
Radoslav Chipilski Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, 2 Drouzhba Str., 4122 Sadovo, Plovdiv District, Bulgaria, Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7250/conect.2026.049

Keywords:

Abiotic stress tolerance, canopy temperature, chlorophyll index, climate variability, field experiment, photosynthetic efficiency, plant nutrition

Abstract

Sweet corn is highly sensitive to environmental conditions, particularly during the reproductive stage, when physiological stability is crucial for yield formation. Under increasing climate variability, nutrient management plays an important role in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological response of sweet corn cultivar Zeaton to organic and organo-mineral fertilization under the agro-climatic conditions of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Field experiments were conducted during the 2024–2025 growing seasons at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv. Three treatments were compared: non-fertilized control, organo-mineral fertilization with Gold Forte, and organic fertilization with Triumfalis. Physiological parameters related to photosynthetic efficiency, chlorophyll content, and canopy temperature were assessed. Both fertilization treatments improved plant physiological status compared to the control. The organic fertilizer showed the strongest positive effect, indicating enhanced photosynthetic activity and improved thermal regulation under variable climatic conditions.

Supporting Agencies

This study was conducted with funding provided by the Center for Research, Intellectual Property Protection and Technology Transfer at the Agricultural University - Plovdiv.