MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZER FOR COTTON CULTIVAR FH-900

Cotton is an important cash crop of Pakistan and truly called white gold of Pakistan. South Punjab in Pakistan produces a major part of total cotton production in Pakistan. Cotton crop has much yield potential but due to lack of management, un-awareness about potassium fertilizer and its application, over expenditure incurred upon its growth. Field trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of two levels of potassium and time of its application on the yield and yield components of seed cotton at farmer s field of village Shah Sadar Din, District Dera Ghazi Khan (D.G. Khan) during years 2001 and 2002. Potassium fertilizer was applied @ 31.25 and 62.5 kg ha-1 i.e. (a) full dose at the time ofsowing (b) full dose at the time of first irrigation and (c) in split application i.e. halfat the time of sowing and remaining halfat the time of first irrigation. These treatments were compared among themselves in addition to check treatments. Results showed that potassium fertilizer applied @ 31.25 kgs ha-1 at sowing produced maximum seed cotton yield during both the years i.e. 4011.11 kgs ha-1 during 1st year and 3547.55 kgs ha-1 during 2nd year when compared with heavy dose i.e. 62.5 kg ha-1 applied at sowing which produced 3702.22 kgs ha-1 during 2001 and 3295.44 kgs ha-1 during the year 2002. This shows that application of lower rate of potassium fertilizer is more beneficial in getting maximum seed cotton yield during both the years of study if applied at sowing time when compared to heavy dose. Application of heavy dose of potassium fertilizer applied at any stage reduced the seed cotton yield The economic feasibility calculated from input / out put ratio showed highest cost benefit ratio 1:27 from the lower dose of potassium fertilizer at the time of sowing instead of heavy application at the time of sowing, first irrigation or applied in split application. The conclusion drawn from the results clearly indicated that early application ofpotassium to cotton crop is more beneficial in an area of Shah Sadder Din, District Dera Ghazi Khan