Nutrition management affects cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) productivity and leaf reddening for targeted yields Hosamani Vinayak1,*, Chittapur B.M.2, Halepyati A.S.2, Hosamani Venkatesh3 1Scientist-C, P2 BSF, Haliyal, Central Silk Board, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 068 2Director of Extension (Retd.) University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, 584 102 3Assistant Professor, College of Horticulture, Munirabad, University of Horticulture Sciences, Baglakot, Karnataka, 583 211 *Corresponding author's Email: basavarajc7@gmail.com
Online published on 29 November, 2023. Abstract A field experiment was conducted during growing seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at College of Agriculture Farm, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, to study the effect of nutrient management on cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) productivity and leaf reddening for targeted yield on medium deep black soil under irrigation. Three yield targets (3, 4 and 5 t kapas yield/ha)-based site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) along with 4 leaf- reddening management (LRM) treatments (S1, vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha in seed line; S2, S1 + MgSO4 10 kg/ha in seed line; S3, S1 + MgSO4 25 kg/ha in seed line; and S4, MgSO4 25 kg/ha in seed line + foliar nutrition of 1% MgSO4 + 19 : 19 : 19 + 1% KNO3 thrice during flowering, boll development and boll bursting stages) besides recommended control were tested using randomized complete block design. The SSNM for 5 t/ha yield target and supplementary nutrition of MgSO4 both to soil and to foliage and foliar application of major nutrients (19:19:19 and KNO3) (S4) resulted in significantly higher plant height (64, 140, 146 and 158 cm, respectively), monopodials (1.90, 3.0, 3.0 and 3.0) and sympodials/plant (10.3, 25.9, 27.5 and 32.3), nodes on main stem (16.4, 29.9, 31.8 and 37.8), leaf area (27.8, 98.0, 131.8 and 99.0 dm2/plant) and leaf-area index/plant (0.51, 1.82, 2.4 and 1.83) at 45, 90 and 135 DAS and at final picking and dry-matter accumulation in leaves (63.4, 137.2 and 153.2 g/plant), stem (76.3, 146.6 and 161.3 g/plant) and reproductive parts (130.7, 146.3 and 161.0 g/plant) at 90, 135 days after sowing and at final picking. Consequently, the treatment also recorded significantly higher seed-cotton yield (5.35 t/ ha), harvest index (0.38 on pooled basis) and benefit: cost ratio (5.32) amongst all targets and LRM approaches, while recommended control fared poorly (2.84 t/ha, 0.37 and 4.14 kapas yield, harvest index and B : C ratio, respectively). Top Keywords Bt cotton, Benefit: cost, Growth, Leaf reddening, Site specific nutrient management, Yield. Top |