Production potential, water and nitrogen use efficiency of hybrid cotton as influenced by drip irrigation and nitrogen fertigation

摘要

Field experiments were carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during winter (August, 1998-February, 1999) and summer (March-August 1999) season to study the water use efficiency (WUE), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and productivity of hybrid cotton (TCHB 213) under two irrigation methods (drip and furrow) and different levels and methods of nitrogen (N) applicaiton. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with three replications. The results revealed that drip irrigation and drip fertigation substantially increased the yield attributes and seed cotton yield as compared to control. The increase in seed cotton yield in drip irrigation over furrow irrigation was 9.3 and 13.6 per cent during winter and summer seasons,respectively. Drip fertigation and drip band application of N increased the seed cotton yield by 10.8 and 9.7 per cent in winter and 15.0 and 10.9 per cent in summer seasons respectively over furrow band application. By adopting drip fertigation, savingof irrigation water up to 43 per cent and nitrogen utilization by 50 per cent achieved in hybrid cotton in both the seasons of study. Drip irrigation and drip fertigation substantially increases the WUE and NUE as compared to furrow irrigation with bandapplication in both the seasons.