EFFECT OF CROP ROTATIONS AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS AND ASSOCIATED WEEDS IN COTTON

Abstract

This study was conducted at Sids Experimental Research Station, Beni Suief Governorate, starting from year 2000 to study the effect of rotation dura-tion (every year, 2- year rotation and 3- year rota-tion) and nitrogen fertilizer rates; 45, 60 and 75 kg N/ fed on growth, yield components and yield of cotton, as well as associated weeds. A split plot design was used with four replicates. The data indicated that crop rotation had significant effect on plant height, number of fruiting branches/ plant, number of open bolls, seed cotton yield/ plant and seed cotton yield/ fed. Seed cotton yield/ fed was increased by 10.99 and 23.62 % when 2-year and 3-year rotations were applied, compared to 1-year rotation (average of both seasons). In-creasing N- fertilization up to 60 kg N/ fed caused significant increases in all studied traits. The best estimate of yield (Y) plotted against N rate (X) for annually rotated cotton was the linear equation of Y =2.44 + 0.074x (R2 =0.81). Two years rotation showed a quadratic association with increasing the N rate, R2 = 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. The high-est values of total fresh weeds were 2.85 and 2.60 kg/ m2 (broad and grassy weeds) when 1-year ro-tation was applied, while the lowest values were 1.50 and 1.35 kg/ m2 when 3-year rotation was applied in the first and second season, respective-ly.