Influence of Different Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Levels on Yield and Economics of High-density Cotton

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different drip irrigation and fertigation levels on yield and economics of high-density cotton at College of Agriculture, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, during kharif 2019 and 2020. The experiment consisted of twelve treatments laid out in Factorial randomised block design (FRBD) replicated thrice.  Three irrigation levels (irrigation scheduled at 0.6 [I1], 0.8 [I2] and 1.0 [I3] Epan throughout the crop growth period) and four fertigation levels (application of 100% RDNK in differential dosage as per recommendation [F1], application of 100% RDNK in differential dosage as per crop coefficient curve [F2], application of 125% RDNK in differential dosage as per recommendation [F3], and application of 125% RDNK in differential dosage as per crop coefficient curve [F4],) were included as treatments in this study.    Irrigation levels did not show any significant influence on yield and economics during 2020 and 2021. While among the four fertigation levels, application of 125% RDNK in differential dosage as per crop coefficient curve (F4) recorded significantly higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio which were on par with application of 125% RDNK in differential dosage as per recommendation (F3). Lower gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were obtained with the application of 100% RDNK in differential dosage as per recommendation (F1) which were on par with application of 100% RDNK in differential dosage as per crop coefficient curve during both the seasons (F2). Further the gross returns and net returns produced under F3 was also on par with F2.