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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Response of cotton to different forms of fertilizer and N levels under Damazin rainfed conditions

Osama M. A. Elhassan and Elnaiem  A. Ali.

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04 cropping seasons, at Damazin Research Farm, under rain-fed conditions. The objective was to study the influence of fertilizer forms and nitrogen rates on growth, yield and lint quality of cotton. The treatments were combinations of four fertilizer forms (urea 46% N, ammonium sulphate nitrate, ASN 26% N + 14% S, ammonium sulphate, AS 21% N + 24% S and nitrophoska, NPK 18:18:5) each applied at three levels of N (0, 18 and 36 kg/fed). The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The data was statistically analyzed and final yield was subjected to economic evaluation. Irrespective of form or level of nitrogen, the study revealed that, the application of N fertilizers including 2N NPK, enhanced earliness in cotton and produced taller plants. The response of seed cotton yield to fertilizer forms and N rates was highly significant in the first and third seasons (p< 0.001). Generally, 2N NPK produced the highest yield, followed by 2N ASN, 2N AS, 1N NPK, 2N urea and 1N AS. In the second season, the difference between fertilizer forms was not significant at both nitrogen levels. The application of nitrogenous fertilizers significantly increased the number of bolls/plant, boll weight and seed index. The ginning % and lint index were not affected by N application.
 

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 9 (2007) PP. 47-54