Trend and Stability Analysis to Interpret Results of Long‐Term Effects of Application of Fertilizers and Manure to Cotton Grown on Rainfed Vertisols

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted from 1985-1986 to 2002-2003 on Vertisols under rainfed conditions to evaluate the effect of cropping systems and application of fertilizers and manure on seed cotton yield. To determine the long-term effects, trends and stability analyses were performed. Soil samples (0-0.15 and 0.15-0.30 m) were collected at the end of year 18 and analysed for available P and AB-DTPA extractable Zn. Among cropping systems, Asiatic diploid cotton (Gossypium arboreum) yielded 233 kg ha )1 more seed cotton than the upland tetraploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Yield trend was positive for G. arboreum compared with G. hirsutum. However, the slope was not significant. Stability analyses indicated overall higher yield stability for G. arboreum than G. hirsutum. Compared with monocropping G. hirsutum, G. hirsutum-sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) (H-S) rotation was significantly more stable. Soil samples (0-0.30 m) of the manure-amended plots had significantly greater P and Zn content (above the critical limit) compared to those receiving inorganic fertilizers alone. With regard to nutrient management practices, seed cotton yield was the highest for the integrated nutrient management (INM) treatment receiving a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Among primary nutrients, the effect of P was significant while that of K was not. Balanced fertilizer application was significantly better than treatments receiving N and NK. Yield trends were, in general, not significant. However, a positive trend was noticed for treatments receiving manure compared to fertilizer alone. Stability analysis, on the other hand, indicated that the slopes were, in general, significant. Among the nutrients, mean yield response with and without P was 1007 and 672 kg ha )1 respectively. Combined application of manure and fertilizer (INM) resulted in the highest mean yield response (1218 kg ha )1 ) and the slope was highly significant (P < 0.004). In the manureamended plots, a better nutrient status probably imparted a greater degree of yield stability. The present study suggests that compared to trend analysis, stability analysis being sensitive as it recognizes the treatment · environment interaction, is a better option to interpret results from long-term agronomic experiments.

Effect of nutrient‐management practices on growth, fruiting pattern, and yield of Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.)

“…Nutrient deficiencies in the N and NPK treatments might have affected plant growth and delayed boll set. Soil samples analyzed at the end of year 18 indicated AB-DTPA-extractable Zn contents to be less than the critical limit in the treatments receiving mineral fertilizers alone (Blaise et al, 2006). Furthermore, available P was also low in the treatment N-alone.…”

“…This might be due to the fact that the cultivars used in that studies were low yielding as compared to upland cotton (Mannikar, 1993). The Asiatic cotton cultivars used in the present study have a yield potential equivalent to those of upland cotton varieties (Blaise et al, 2006). Furthermore, earlier studies were conducted over a short-term (2-3 years) period.…”

“…A long-term field experiment was started at the Central Institute for Cotton Research,Nagpur,India (21°9′ N and 17°7′ E) in 1985 to study nutrient-management practices under different cropping systems (for details, see Blaise et al, 2006). The soil is a Vertisol and classified as a fine, montmorillonite, hyperthermic Typic Haplustert (Soil Survey Staff, 1999) with 196 g kg -1 sand, 308 g kg -1 silt, and 496 g kg -1 clay in the top 0.30 m. The soils are low in organic C (4.1 g kg -1 ) and sodium * Correspondence: Dr. D. Blaise; e-mail: blaise_123@rediffmail.com bicarbonate-extractable P (6.1 mg kg -1 ) and high in 1N ammonium acetate-extractable K (253 mg kg -1 ).…”

“…Historically, Asiatic diploid cotton (Gossypium arboreum and G. herbaceum) occupied 97% of the cotton-growing area in the country. Introduction of high-yielding hybrids and varieties of upland cotton (G. hirsutum) in the mid 1970s and the Bt transgenic hybrids in 2002 led to a major reduction in the area sown with Asiatic cotton, even though the latter are better adapted to the rainfed areas of central India (Blaise et al, 2006). Furthermore, because of the high risks involved in rainfed agriculture, farmers apply little fertilizers.…”

Effect of Ganoderma Mushroom on Increasing Soil Fertility Using Plam Residues and Increasing Broccoli Production

“…Results compared to add recommendation only complete fertilizer formulations, thus cutting out 50% of the recommendation and produced better quantity and fertilizer formulations, and minimize food contamination, as well as minimize damage to the environment and human health. Blaise et al (2006) showed that to compost, decaying added to soil is a good source of potassium and soil potassium phosphorus content increased ICH transactions added to her that fertilizer analogy not addition (not clear, rewrite). A study by Biari et al (2008) when inoculated seeds of maize yellow Azotobacter bacterium and Azospirillum led to an increase in plant height and dry weight increase of total concentrations of both vegetative potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in plant and the hit ratios, 15.49, 166.09, 12.71 and 96.7, respectively.…”