Effect of Micronutrients Application under Different Fertilizer Prescription Methods on Growth and Yield of BT Cotton

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of the application of micronutrients under different fertilizer prescription methods on growth and yield of Bt cotton at KVK farm, Chamarajanagara district, Southern Dry Zone of Karnataka (Zone 6). The experiment was laid out in randomised complete block design with thirteen treatments and three replications during Kharif 2016 and Kharif 2017.  The micronutrients were given as soil application and foliar spray under UAS (B) and SSNM dose of NPK fertilizers prescription.  The soil was slightly alkaline in reaction (pH: 7.95), low in zinc (0.32 mg kg-1) and boron (0.18 mg kg-1). The results indicated significantly higher plant height and more number of sympodial branches with UAS (B) Package, UAS (B) + Micronutrients, SSNM and SSNM + Micronutrients. However, significantly higher seed cotton yield (2329 kg ha-1) was recorded with NPK as per SSNM + MNM foliar application at 80 and 100 DAS followed by NPK as per UAS (B) package + MNM foliar application at 80 and100 DAS (2215 kg ha-1) and NPK as per SSNM + MNM soil application (2012 kg ha-1) treatments as compared to control. The supplementation of micronutrients with optimized major nutrient applications can bring about an overall augmentation in crop performance both in terms of growth and yield attributes, thereby resulting in a significant higher yield. Application of micronutrients through foliar spray has a significant and positive effect on the growth and yield in Bt cotton under black soils of Chamarajanagara district.