Effect of Crop Geometry and Drip Fertigation on Dry Matter Partitioning, Yield Attributes and Yield of Interspecific Hybrid Bt Cotton

Field experiments were carried out during 2012–2013 and 2013–14 two consecutive years at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore tostudy the dry matter partitioning, yield attributes and yield of Bt cotton as influenced by crop geometry and drip fertigation. The experiment was laid out in a strip plot design with three replications. The treatments in main plot consisted of four crop geometry levels (120 x 60 cm, 120 x 90 cm, 150 x 60 cm and 150 x 90 cm) and sub plots consisted of four nutrient levels viz., 75%, 100%, 125% of recommended dose as water soluble fertilizer (WSF) through drip system and as conventional practice. Here, 75% of the P as basal (single super phosphate) and remaining 25% P as Water soluble fertilizer and entire quantity of N and K as water soluble fertilizer was applied based on recommended fertigation schedule. The experimental results revealed that wider crop geometry 150 x 90 cm with application of 125% water soluble fertilizer recorded more dry matter partitioning to different plant parts and yield attributes plant⁻¹. Higher seed cotton yield were recorded with crop geometry of 120 x 90 cm and 125% as water soluble fertilizer. Lower dry matter partitioning, yield attributes and yield were recorded with conventional irrigation and fertilizer application.