Response of cotton to application of organic and inorganic source of nutrients in semi-arid climate

Abstract

Use of organic manures in agriculture is considered as environmental friendly, carbon smart and an economical approach to get maximum output in existing agricultural production systems. Unselective use of organic manures is often used in the agriculture to improve soil health but it cannot significantly increase yield. Application of organic and inorganic source of nutrients can uplift the economics of existing cotton based production systems by improving soil health and reducing the cost of inorganic nutrients per unit area. This study was executed to quantify the best possible combination of integrated nutrients application for cotton crop. The effect of different combination of mineral/inorganic nitrogen (N), farm yard manure (FYM: comprised of cow dung), poultry manure and slurry (waste product of biogas plant that uses manure of all kind of farm animals to produce biogas) were investigated to figure out the best possible combination for cotton crop. Different combinations were; T1= control (recommended fertilizer dose 145-56-62 NPK kg ha-1); T2= poultry manure (8 t ha-1); T3= FYM (10 t ha-1); T4= slurry (10 t ha-1); T5= urea 30 kg ha-1+ poultry manure 6 t ha-1, T6= urea 30 kg ha-1+ FYM 8 t ha-1; T7= urea 30 kg ha-1+ slurry 8 t ha-1; T8= urea 60 kg ha-1+ poultry manure 3 t ha-1; T9= urea 60 kg ha-1+ FYM 4 t ha-1; T10=urea 60 kg ha-1+ slurry 4 t ha-1. Treatments were laid out in field according to randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed the significant high response of treatment where combination of 30 kg urea ha-1 +8 t FYM ha-1 was applied. This treatment resulted in taller plants (121 cm), more number of sympodial branches (19.9), more number of bolls per plant (26), higher boll weight (3.6 g), higher seed cotton yield (1792 kg ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) (1.8:1) followed by the treatment where 30 kg urea ha-1 was applied in combination with 8 t ha-1 slurry. In conclusion, combined application of urea and FYM @ 30 kg ha-1 and 8 t ha-1, respectively could be the economical approach to attain the higher seed cotton yield. © 2020