Response of Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to Tillage and Nitrogen in Wheat Based Cropping System

Ridge tillage system is one approach to ensure better plant population, save irrigation water, cut cultivation costs and increases cotton yield and quality on sustainable basis. Field trial was conducted in 2013 and 2014 at Cotton Research Station, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan to study the effect of tillage systems [ridge tillage (RT) and flat tillage (FT)] and 5 nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kgN. ha-1) on cotton lint yields, quality and earliness. Experiment was laid out in a RCB design with split plot arrangements replicated thrice. Tillage methods were allotted to main plots while nitrogen levels were kept in sub plots. Results showed that RT produced higher bolls per plant, weight per bolls, lint yields, earliness % and benefit cost ratio (BCR) than FT. Ridge tillage gave lower percent of lodging. Results for nitrogen indicated that bolls numbers per plant, bolls weight, lint yield, earliness, lodging, BCR, fibre length and fineness were highest at 150-200 kg N/hectare. The fibre characteristics Indicated that RT had no unfavorable influence on fiber length and fineness compared to FT. In conclusion, RT is a resourceful alternative tillage method for rising earliness %, cotton yield and fiber characteristics in D.I. Khan, Pakistan environments.