scholarly journals Biochar and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers improved growth, nitrogen use, yield, and fiber quality of cotton under arid climatic conditions

Author(s):  
Sobia Manzoor ◽  
Muhammad Habib-ur-Rahman ◽  
Ghulam Haider ◽  
Iqra Ghafoor ◽  
Saeed Ahmad ◽  
...  

AbstractThe efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizers in South Asia is on a declining trajectory due to increased losses. Biochar (BC) and slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers (SRNF) have been found to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in certain cases. However, field-scale studies to explore the potential of BC and SRNF in south Asian arid climate are lacking. Here we conducted a field experiment in the arid environment to demonstrate the response of BC and SRNF on cotton growth and yield quality. The treatments were comprised of two factors, (A) nitrogen sources, (i) simple urea, (ii)neem-coated urea, (iii)sulfur-coated urea, (iv) bacterial coated urea, and cotton stalks biochar impregnated with simple urea, and (B) nitrogen application rates, N1=160 kg ha-1, N2 = 120 kg ha-1, and N3 = 80 kg ha-1. Different SRNF differentially affected cotton growth, morphological and physiological attributes, and seed cotton yield (SCY). The bacterial coated urea at the highest rate of N application (160 kg ha-1) resulted in a higher net leaf photosynthetic rate (32.8 μmol m-2 s-1), leaf transpiration rate (8.10 mmol s-1), and stomatal conductance (0.502 mol m-2 s-1), while leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and seed cotton yield (4513 kg ha-1) were increased by bacterial coated urea at 120 kg ha-1 than simple urea. However, low rate N application (80 kg ha-1) of bacterial coated urea showed higher nitrogen use efficiency (39.6 kg SCY kg-1 N). The fiber quality (fiber length, fiber strength, ginning outturn, fiber index, and seed index) was also increased with the high N application rates than N2 and N3 application. To summarize, the bacterial coated urea with recommended N (160 kg ha-1) and 75% of recommended N application (120 kg ha-1) may be recommended for farmers in the arid climatic conditions of Punjab to enhance the seed cotton yield, thereby reducing nitrogen losses.

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2589
Author(s):  
Ishrat Zaman ◽  
Muqarrab Ali ◽  
Khurram Shahzad ◽  
Muhammad Saeed Tahir ◽  
Amar Matloob ◽  
...  

Cotton is a major cash crop of Pakistan that provides high foreign exchange and plays an important role in agriculture, industry, and economic development. The plant population is important in achieving high cotton yield and fiber quality attributes in irrigated conditions. Most farmers maintain plant spacing according to their local tradition, and often ignore the varietal characteristics in Pakistan that cause low yield and poor quality of products. Therefore, standardization of plant spacings according to varietal characteristics is important to achieve higher yield and fiber quality. A field experiment was carried out at the Agronomic Research Area, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan in 2017, in order to evaluate the performance of four cotton cultivars (MNH-1016, FH-Lalazar, NIAB-878, and Cyto-124) under five plant spacings (15.0, 22.5, 30.0, 37.5, and 45.0 cm), comparing them with and without nitrogen application. Nitrogen fertilization was applied at the rate of 197 kg ha−1. The experiment was replicated thrice, as per Randomized Complete Block Design with factorial arrangements. The results showed that nitrogen application of 197 kg ha−1 showed a positive impact on all crop parameters compared to plots where no nitrogen fertilizer was applied. The wider plant spacing (45 cm) increased the values of many cotton parameters compared with other plant spacings (22.5, 30.0, 37.5 and 45.0 cm), but the seed cotton yield was found to be higher in the narrow plant spacing (15 cm). However, fiber quality parameters such as GOT, staple strength, and micronaire showed higher values under wider plant spacing (45.0 cm). The varieties showed a mixed effect on cotton productivity and fiber quality. The MNH-1016 significantly impacted yield-contributing parameters such as bolls plant−1, boll weight and seed cotton yield. The NIAB-878 showed a higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance compared to other varieties. Therefore, the wider plant spacing with nitrogen application could be a better strategy to increase cotton growth, yield, physiology, and fiber quality. However, long-term studies under different climatic conditions are suggested for wider plant spacing with nitrogen fertilizers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Ma ◽  
Jinyan Yang ◽  
Hanwen Wu ◽  
Weili Jiang ◽  
Yajie Ma ◽  
...  

Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 to determine the influence of velvetleaf densities of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 plants m−1of row on cotton growth and yield. The relationship between velvetleaf density and seed cotton yield was described by the hyperbolic decay regression model, which estimated that a density of 0.44 to 0.48 velvetleaf m−1of row would result in a seed cotton yield loss of 50%. Velvetleaf remained taller and thicker than cotton throughout the growing season. Both cotton height and stem diameter reduced with increasing velvetleaf density. Moreover, velvetleaf interference delayed cotton maturity, especially at velvetleaf densities of 1 to 8 plants m−1of row, and cotton boll number and weight, seed numbers per boll, and lint percentage were also reduced. Fiber quality was not influenced by weed density when analyzed over 2 yr; however, fiber length uniformity and micronaire were adversely affected in 2014. Velvetleaf intraspecific competition resulted in density-dependent effects on weed biomass, ranging from 97 to 204 g plant−1dry weight. Velvetleaf seed production per plant or per square meter was indicated by a logarithmic response. At a density of 1 plant m−1of cotton row, velvetleaf produced approximately 20,000 seeds m−2. The adverse impact of velvetleaf on cotton growth and development identified in this study have indicated the need for effective management of this species when the weed density is greater than 0.25 to 0.5 plant m−1of row and before the weed seed maturity.


Author(s):  
Z. A. Deho ◽  
S. Abro ◽  
M. Rizwan

Eight mutant lines developed through mutation breeding technique using chemical mutagen along with parent line (Sadori) were evaluated at NIA, experimental farm. Quantitative and qualitative traits were analyzed statistically. The chemical mutagen Ethyle Methane Sulphonate (EMS) was used at the rate of 0.03%. The mutant lines (viz. NIA-M5, NIA-M10, NIA-M16, NIA-M20, NIA-M23, NIA-M29, NIA-M33 and NIA-M35) with parent Sadori were included in this study. The results revealed that three mutants (NIA-M20, NIA-M35 and NIA-M5) took (7.2%, 8.1% and 8.1%) higher plant height than parent (111 cm), two mutants (NIA-M5 and NIA-M20) obtained (36.8% and 42.1%) more sympodial branches plant-1 than parent (19.0). Three mutants (NIA-M20, NIA-M5 and NIA-M10) produced (16.8%, 22.4.0% and 25.4%) more number of bolls plant-1 than parental line (67.0). Five mutants (NIA-M5, NIA-M35, NIA-M20, NIA-M23 and NIA-M29) had higher fiber length (mm) (10.2%, 8%, 5.7%, 5% and 4.0%) as compared parent Sadori (28.0 mm). Two mutants (NIA-M20 and NIA-M29) showed higher fiber strength (g/tex) (5.5% and 8.3%) than parent (34.4%). Two mutants (NIA-M5 and NIA-M20) produced higher seed-cotton yield kg ha-1 (24.0% and 25.4%) over parent Sadori (3563 kg ha-1). The selected mutant lines on the basis of higher seed-cotton yield (kg ha-1) and enhanced fiber length (mm) compared to parent (Sadori) will be promoted in preliminary yield trials. Heritability and genetic advance were noted for early days to maturity, higher plant height (cm), sympodial branches plant-1, lengthy fiber (mm), bolls plant-1 and seed-cotton yield (kg ha-1).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abia Younas ◽  
Farrukh Illahi ◽  
Ghulam Sarwar ◽  
Iram Sharif ◽  
Shahid Munir Chohan

Abstract Background: Cotton is grown around the globe for its fiber, which consists of unicellular seed trichome. Converging decent fiber quality and good fiber yield in cotton varieties is crucial for textile industry of any country. Pedigree method is mostly used for developing cotton varieties in Pakistan. Suitability of pedigree method for developing cotton variety is accessed in an experiment. Genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, heritability, co-heritability, genetic advance, mean comparison and correlation analysis was carried out of nine breeding lines of in fifth filial generation. Gene action was thus determined to target the traits for further yield and quality improvement of cotton fiber. Results: Substantial genetic variability existed in F5 lines. Genotypic and phenotypic variances had less differences and phenotypic variances were higher than genotypic variance indicating influence of environment on the final expression of the traits. All traits had medium to high heritability. Seed cotton yield per plant came up with high genetic advance and high heritability indicating additive gene action and can be improved by selection. Mean comparison indicated more variation for GOT% compared to other traits. Correlation analysis indicated selecting more sympodial branches for improving seed cotton yield per plant and selecting more monopodial branches for improving fiber fineness and fiber length. However, co-heritability had high value indicating that all the traits are in balance for improvement. Conclusion: Pedigree method is suitable for improving seed cotton yields and fiber quality. However, statistical check points are recommended with each proceeding generation to apply suitable selection pressure and monitor the gene action for each trait in each generation.


Author(s):  
B. Srinivas ◽  
D. Bhadru

The present study was performed to evaluate the heterosis effects for seed cotton yield and fiber quality traits of 56 hybrids and their parents involving seven lines and eight testers along with a check at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad. The results showed that, range of relative heterosis varied from -3.40 to 13.29 in ginning percentage, -5.28 to 14.10 in 2.5% span length, -8.72 to 8.25 in uniformity ratio, -16.39 to 14.88 in micronaire value, -5.97 to 10.02 in bundle strength and -32.57 to 113.40 in seed cotton yield per plant, where, highest number of crosses (24) with significant mid parental heterosis in desirable direction was observed for seed cotton yield per plant followed by 2.5 % span length (16) and ginning percentage (12). Desirable and significant heterosis over better parent was observed in the crosses for all the studied characters except for uniformity ratio. A good number of crosses recorded significant standard heterosis over check for all the studied parameters except for uniformity ration and micronaire value. Apart from showing considerable level of heterosis for seed cotton yield, the crosses AKH 9331 x HAG 1055 exhibited good level of heterosis for ginning percentage, Galama x L 604 and Galama x JK 344 for uniformity ratio, Galama x HAG 1055, AKH 9331 x HAG 1055 and CPD 420 x IC 356932 for 2.5% span length and CPD 420 x JK 344 and BC 68-2 x LK 861 for bundle strength. So these crosses could be exploited to improve the yield along with one or more fiber quality traits through heterosis breeding.


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