Dry Matter, Lint Mass and Fiber Properties of Cotton in Response to Nitrogen Application and Planting Densities
Dry Matter, Lint Mass and Fiber Properties of Cotton in Response to Nitrogen Application and Planting Densities
Muhammad Naveed Afzal1, Muhammad Tariq1*, Muhammad Ahmad1, Khuram Mubeen2, Muhammad Ayaz Khan3, Muhamamd Umer Afzal4 and Shakeel Ahmad5
ABSTRACT
Evaluation of optimum nitrogen rate in conjunction with plant density is an important concern of cotton production. The two years’ field trials were conducted at Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan to test the hypothesis whether nitrogen (N) requirement varies with planting density (PD) for dry matter production, partitioning, nutrient use efficiency (NUE), lint yield and associated fiber properties. In this RCBD split plot experiment, two planting densities (8.88 and 4.44 plants m-2) were assigned to main plot and four nitrogen rates (0, 50,100 and 150 kg N ha-1) were kept in sub plots with three replications. The PD was maintained by altering the within plant spaces keeping the row spaces (75 cm) constant. The results indicated that significant PD X N interaction was observed for plant biomass components i.e. the high PD (8.88 plants m-2) with 0-N produced 16.80%, 25.07%, 21.54% and 33.34% and it produced 21.41%, 31.51%, 27.40% and 31.95% higher vegetative, reproductive, total biomass and total fruiting points, respectively with 150-N than its counterpart’s low PD (4.44 plants m-2). The high density planting requires relatively less nitrogen in comparison with low density to produce statistical similar values for total dry matter. However, the high density planting did not improve fiber traits. The PD X N interaction was non-significant for lint mass and fiber quality. The agronomic and economic nutrient use efficiency and partial factor productivity (PFP) was maximum with low doses of nitrogen. Whereas, the percent relative yield (PRY) at 50 kg N was very low in relevance to 150 kg.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
