Optimizing yield and fiber quality of cotton under mediterranean environment: managing nitrogen and potassium nutrition

Abstract

Effective management strategies for nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizer are important to ensure optimum yield and fiber quality of cotton production. The aim of this research was to study the influence of nitrogen and potassium application on yield and fiber quality of cotton. Study was conducted in a randomized blocks in a factorial design with three replicates. The nitrogen treatments (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 kg ha -1 ) and five K2O rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha -1) are used in this study. Among the various tested combinations, the best combinations are 180 kg N ha -1 along with 150 kg K ha -1 and it produced the greatest seed cotton yieldand gin turnout. After 120 days of plantation 72% reduction in the dry weight was reported in the nitrogen deficient treatment and these plants produced only 17 bolls per plant and it was significantly different (25 bolls) than the plant treated by 180 kg N ha -1 . Significant and negative correlations were reported between boll number per plant and micronaire and total dry matter yield were found at K fertilization treatments. Positive and significant correlations were determined between gin turnout and micronaire and between fiber strength and total biomass production at N fertilization. The highest fiber strength was recorded in the plant treated by the combination of 240 kg ha -1 nitrogen and 50 kg ha -1 potassium. For fiber length and fiber strength, no significant differences were reported among the various treatments of potassium. From the results of this study it can be concluded that combination of 180 kg ha -1 nitrogen and 100 kg ha -1 potassium are suitable for the production of cotton crop.

Influence of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on the Growth and Yield of Cotton (Gossypium sp.)

“…Testing different nitrogen rates found the positive influence of 180 kg N/ha, together with 150 kg K/ha, leading to the highest yield of raw cotton and the highest fiber yield [93]. The nutrient nitrogen has a greater impact on cotton yield than any other nutrient [94].…”