Effect of nutrient fortification and spacing on growth and yield of Bt cotton under protective irrigation

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted in Kharif season of 2017 at Agronomy farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur to assess the effect of nutrient fortification and spacing on growth and yield of Bt cotton under protective irrigation. Four nutrient levels and three spacing’s were tested in split plot design with 3 replications and there were twelve treatment combinations. Study revealed that, growth parameters i.e., plant height and number of sympodial branches plant-1 recorded highest with fortified nutrient level N4-125% RDF with fortified Humic Acid. Similarly yield attributes i.e., Number of picked bolls plant-1 and seed cotton yield plant-1 recorded significantly highest with nutrient level N4. Growth parameters i.e., plant height was recorded highest with plant spacing of S1-90 cm x 45 cm. But number of sympodial branches plant-1 number of picked bolls plant-1, seed cotton yield plant-1 was highest with plant spacing of S3-120cm x 45cm. Higher seed cotton yield kg ha-1 was recorded with the treatment combination of 125% RDF fortified with humic acid under spacing of 90cm x 45cm (N4S1). But, it was remain at par with the treatment combination of 100% RDF fortified with humic acid under spacing of 90cm x 45cm (N1S1).