Growth, Yield and Quality of Bt Cotton (G. Hirsutum) as Influenced by Nitrogen Application under South Gujarat Condition

A field experiment was conducted at Main Cotton Research Station, Surat with the object to study the effect of different levels, split and methods of application of nitrogen on growth, yield and quality of Bt cotton during kharif season of 2012-13. Results revealed that increasing level of nitrogen from 180 to 240 and further to 300 kg N ha-1 significantly increased seed cotton yield by 9.14 and 7.31%, respectively. Application of N with 5 and 6 splits were equally effective for production of seed cotton yield. Neem coated urea significantly produced 124 kg more seed cotton yield per hectare. In Bt cotton, nitrogen @ 240 kg ha-1 applied in 5 equal splits at 25 days intervals through neem coated urea recorded higher number of sympodial branches, number of bolls, boll weight, seed cotton and stalk yields as well as nitrogen use efficiency and economics as compared to other treatments. However, the quality of Bt cotton did not influence significantly due to nitrogen application.