Assessing the Impact of Combining Cotton Residue, Tillage and Nutrient Management on Rainfed Bt Cotton Growth in Marathwada Region of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of cotton residue incorporation with conservation tillage and integrated nutrient management practices on Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) at AICRP on Dryland Agriculture farm, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during kharif 2021-22. Fifteen treatment combinations consisting of three tillage practices (conventional tillage, reduced tillage and zero tillage) and five integrated nutrient management practices (100% RDF (120:60:60 kg NPK ha-1), 100% RDF + cotton residue @ 3 t ha-1 + DM @ 12 kg ha-1, 75% RDF + FYM 6 t ha-1 + cotton residue @ 3 t ha-1 + DM @ 12 kg ha-1, 50% RDF + FYM 12 t ha-1 + cotton residue @ 3 t ha-1 + DM @ 12 kg ha-1 and Control) were evaluated in split plot design with three replications. The highest average growth rates (AGR) for both plant height and dry matter in the context of conventional tillage were observed during specific growth intervals: 61-90 days after sowing (DAS) for plant height (1.352 cm day-1 plant-1) and 91-120 DAS for dry matter (3.327 g day-1 plant-1). Similarly, when considering integrated nutrient management practices, the combination of 100% RDF with cotton residue at 3 t ha-1 and DM at 12 kg ha-1 showed the highest AGR for plant height (1.408 cm day-1 plant-1) during 61-90 DAS and for dry matter (3.293 g day-1 plant-1) during 91-120 DAS. Furthermore, various growth parameters such as CGR, RGR, NAR, and LAI also exhibited their maximum values under both conventional tillage and the mentioned integrated nutrient management practice.