Effect of potassium on production, quality and nutrient uptake in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2003-04 to 2004-05 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam to know the effect of potasium on yield and fibre quality of 'Narasimha' cotton (Gossypium hirusitum). All the yield and yield components registered the highest values in treatment T5 (NPK soil applied + foliar spray of pcottasium at early and peak boll formation stages) treatment, followed by treatment T3 (NPK (90:45:45 kg/ha) soil applied + foliar spray of K @ 5kg K20/ha at early boll formation stage) and treatment T4 (NPK (90:45:45 kg/ha) soil applied + foliar spray of K @ 5kg K2O/ha at peak boll formation stage and lowest values were observed in treatment T1 (control). Plant height, sympodia/plant, boll weight and seed index were high in second year. Monopodia/plant, number of bolls/plant, lint index, ginning percentage, seed cotton yield/plant and seed cotton yield (kg/ha) were high during first year. Non significant differences were existed among the treatments for fiber quality parameters during both the years except for 2.5% span length and bundle strength during second year. Improvement in fiber quality parameters composition and uptake were maximum in treatment T5 and minimum in T1 during both the years. Nutrient uptake was more during second year than the first year due to more drymatter accumulation in the plant.