Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
T6-30P-1269
Effect of Time of Application and Different Foliar Sprays on Yield and
Economics of Cotton
A.B. Chorey*, R. S Mali, M. M. Ganvir, V.V. Gabhane, R. S. Patode and
G. Ravindrachary
AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra-444104
*chiefscientist1057@gmail.com
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), popularly known as ‘White Gold’ is grown mainly for fiber
all over the world. It is the major fiber crop of the semi-arid tropics of Indian subcontinent that
is predominantly rain dependent. In India, it is grown in an area of 13.5 million hectares with
a production of 36.5 million bales and productivity of 460 kg ha − 1 (COCPC, 2020).
Drought occurring is frequent in rainfed regions of Vidarbha in Maharashtra State. Under
drought stress, there is a reduction in nutrient uptake by the roots partially due to the reduction
in soil moisture and also crop growth is suffered when the roots are unable to meet the nutrient
requirement of the crop at a critical stage. Hence, under such situation foliar nutrition can be
beneficial. The foliar application of Zn increases auxin levels within the plants which in turn
enhances the root growth and consequent improvement of drought tolerance in plants. Hence
the investigation was conducted to study the effect of foliar nutrition on growth and yield of
cotton to mitigate the ill effects of drought situation with different set of treatments in situations
of stress and after relieving of stress.
Methodology
The field experiment was conducted at research field of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr.
PDKV, Akola (MS) during 2021-2022. Effect of time of application and different foliar sprays
on yield and economics of cotton was studied and analyzed. The experiment was laid out in
factorial randomized block design with three replications. For this study two factors were
considered, in factor A: Time of application with treatments T 1:Foliar spray during dry spell
and T2 : Foliar spray after reliving of stress/dry spell and for factor B different foliar sprays
are used, S 1 : application of urea, @1% , S 2:application of urea @2%, S 3: application of water
soluble complex fertilizer 19:19:19@0.5%, S 4:application of water soluble complex fertilizer
19:19:19@ 0.5% + Zinc sulphate @0.5% , S5 :application of Zinc sulphate @0.5%, S6:Water
spray, S 7:application of KNO 3@1.5% and S 8:Control (No spray).
867 | Page Institutional and policy innovations for accelerated and enhanced impacts