Effect of moisture conservation and nutrition management practices on leaf area, chlorophyll content and seed cotton yield of rainfed Bt cotton

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on clay soil of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur to find out the effect of nutrition and moisture conservation practices on growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of rainfed Bt cotton. The nutrient management and moisture conservation practices influenced the leaf area and leaf area index of cotton crop at different growth stages. Application of125%RDF (150:75:75)with opening furrow for every row during last intercultural operation + foliar nutrition with 2%KNO3at square formation, flowering, and boll development stages recorded maximum leaf area, leaf area index and seed cotton yield and was on a par with 125%RDF (150:75:75)fertilizer application + foliar nutrition with 2%KNO3at square formation, flowering, and boll development stages and 100%RDF (120:60:60) + opening furrow for every row during last intercultural operation + foliar nutrition with 2%KNO3at square formation, flowering and boll development stages and lowest seed cotton yield wasrecorded with application of 100%RDF (120:60:60kg ha-1).