In-Situ Moisture Conservation and Nutrient Management Strategies on Growth and Yield of 10-22Rainfed Cotton in Semi Arid Regions

Abstract

A Field study entitled “Influence of resource conservation technologies on cotton productivity, profitability and environment in rainfed Alfisols of Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT)” was conducted at CRIDA, Hyderabad, during rainy season, 2021-222 and 2022-23. Experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with five in-situ moisture conservation viz., M1: Flat bed sowing with CRIDA 6 row planter, M2: Flat bed with dhaincha as live mulch, M3: Conservation furrow at sowing with CRIDA ridge planter, M4: Raised bed and furrow with CRIDA raised bed planter and M5: Conservation furrow at 30 - 40 DAS after interculture operations as main plots and nutrient management practices as sub plots viz., S1: control (No fertilizer), S2: 100% recommended dose of NPK (120:60:60) and S3: 125% recommended dose of NPK (150:75:75) allocated randomly and replicated thrice. The in-situ moisture conservation method, raised bed (M4) recorded higher lint yield (506 kg ha-1) and seed cotton yield (1427 kg ha-1) and was followed by conservation furrow at sowing (M3), conservation furrow at 30-45 DAS (M5), flat bed with dhaincha as live mulch (M2) and flat bed (M1). These higher yields were due to higher plant height (100.8 cm), monopodial branches plant-1 (3.1), sympodial branches plant-1 (16.0), dry matter production (3567 kg ha-1). Among the nutrient management practice 125 % recommended dose of NPK (150:75:75) recorded performed higher plant height (108.2 cm), monopodial branches plant-1 (3.2), sympodial branches plant- 1(16.1), dry matter production (3812 kg ha-1), lint yield (495 kg ha-1) and seed cotton yield (1412 kg ha-1) and was followed by 100 % recommended dose of NPK (120:60:60) and control treatment. So, it is concluded that raising of cotton on raised bed along with application of 125 % RDF of NPK (150:75:75) realized higher lint and seed cotton yield (621 and 1717 kg ha-1).