Abstract
A comparison of foliar and soil application of nitrogen on cotton (Gospsy. hirsuturn L.) was made as a field trial. Six treatments of nitrogen were applied on the basis of 50 kg/ha, Full dose of soil applied nitrogen enhanced the height of plant:, number of bolls, number of branches, leaf arep,, and seed cotton yield. The treatments such as 1/4 soil + 3(4 spray and full dose spray exhibited parallel effects for seed cotton yield. NIA E1/4-78. proved short statured, early flowering, producing significantly more number of branches with a high yield, whereas B-557 showed more leaf area but was poor yielding.
INTR.ODUCT1ON
Cotton (Gossmiurn hirsutum L.) possesses a wide range of ecological adaptability and is grown mainly under irrigated conditions. Unfortunately, its yield in Pakistan is low as compared to other cotton growing countries of the world. It is partly due to the unawareness or the part of our cotton growers regarding various suitable agronomic practices, of which optimum time of sowing and use of fertilizers are considered to be the most important factors responsible for the growth, development and subsequent perforrna.nce of this plant.
Among different factors, nitrogen is the most limiting element and seems indispensible for successful cotton cultivation. Nitrogen secures the formation of sturdy plants with high yield.
