Vol. 11, Issue 5 (2022)

Author(s):
VV Patil, AV Solanke, GS Dhaigude, SS Illhe, SR Imade and RV Mahajan

Abstract:
A field investigation on “Nutrient management for organic cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) production” was carried out at All India Coordinated Research Project, Cotton Improvement Project, Research Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (India) during kharif season of 2017 and 2018. The experiment was carried on the same site and same randomization of treatments during both the years. The result indicated that physiological parameters viz., chlorophyll content (%), photosynthetic rate (µ mol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1), absorbed PAR (µ mol m^-2 s^-1) significantly higher with application of recommended dose of fertilizer through inorganic (80:40:40 N, P and K kg ha^-1) to cotton. Whereas, among the organic nutrient sources application of nutrients through FYM based on P equivalent recorded maximum growth and yield attributes followed by seed treatment with Azotobactor + PSB + soil application of Azotobactor and PSB + foliar application of PPFM (1% Spray) + seed treatment with (Azotobactor + PSB) + soil application of Azotobactor + PSB) and foliar application of PPFM (1% spray at 45 and 65 DAS) + neemcake 250 kg ha^-1 + raising of sunnhemp between two rows (1:1) and incorporation in soil at flowering stage during both the years. Significantly lower all the growth parameters were recorded in absolute control during both the years. Similarly the same treatment registered significantly higher plant height, leaf area, dry matter accumulation, number of bolls plant-1 and seed cotton yield.