Effect of Time of Application of Calcium Carbide with and without N, P and K Fertilizer on Nutrients up Take Efficiency of Cotton Crop

摘要

Virtually no results have been reported on the effect of calcium carbide on nutrient uptake efficiency of cotton crop. This report is unique. Because of the increase of growth of cotton by application of encapsulated CaC_2, the present pot study was conducted to evaluate the effect of CaC₂ (the ethylene producing compound) on N, P and K uptake efficiency of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) at the wire house, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, in 2001-2002. Pots were filled with sandy loam soil having EC: 1.61 ds m￣1 and pH 7.7. Cotton variety BH 36 was planted in pots .Two levels of N,P and K fertilizer 120-100-60 kg ha￣1 and 60-50-30 kg ha￣1 were applied. Half dose of N and full doses of P and K were applied at sowing and remaining half dose of N was applied with first irrigation, using Urea, SSP and SOP as a source of N, P and K. Capsulated calcium carbide was applied @ 60 kg ha￣1 in the pots at field capacity . Calcium carbide was applied at two growth stages i.e., after two and eight weeks of germination. Completely randomized factorial design, having nine treatments and three repeats was followed. Data regarding N, P and K concentration and uptake was analysed. It was observed that CaC₂ application promoted Nitrogen concentration in plant significantly, however, P and K concentration was affected non-significantly. Treatment where CaC₂ was applied after two weeks of germination influenced nitrogen concentration significantly, while the control and treatment where CaC₂ was applied after eight weeks of germination were at par with each other. N, P and K up take were affected significantly with the application of CaC_2. Control and the treatment where, CaC₂ was applied after eight weeks of germination showed no significant effects on nitrogen up take. Phosphorus up take was influenced significantly by the application of CaC₂. Potassium up take was pronouncedly affected in the treatment where CaC ₂ was applied after two weeks of germination.