3, 4 Assistant Research Officers Adaptive Research Farm Rahim Yar Khan.
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted in three successive seasons during 2008-10 on sandy loam soil at Adaptive Research Farm, Rahim Yar Khan. The objective was to investigate the response of cotton (cv.MNH-786) to different levels and times of application of potash. The treatments comprised three potassium doses (0, 62.5 and 125 kg ha-1) and applied at different times (full on sowing, full at 1st irrigation and ½ at sowing + ½ at 1st irrigation). Potassium doses applied at different times significantly affected seed cotton yield. On an average the highest seed cotton yield (3030.75 kg ha-1) was obtained when crop was fertilized at the rate of 125 kg ha-1 K (full sowing) followed by 62.5 kg ha-1 K full at sowing (2875.25 kg ha-1). So potassium fertilizer application at sowing proved more beneficial than its split application at sowing and 1st irrigation. The lowest yield was noted in control (2258.52 kg ha-1) where no potassium fertilizer was applied. Hence application of K at economical doses of 62.5 kg ha-1 is recommended in ecological zone of Bahawalpur.
Keywords: potash, application time, dose rate, cotton yield, fertilizer doses
