Using Vermicompost as a Complementary to Mineral Fertilization in Cotton

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at the Research Farm of El-Gemmeiza Agric. Res. Station, El– Gharbia Governorate during 2018 and 2019 seasons, to study the effect of four NPK fertilizer rates (the recommended NPK rate (100%) serving as a control, 75%, 50% and 25% of the recommended NPK rate), foliar spraying with vermicompost extract at three levels (0, 5 cm3 /L and 7.5 cm3 /L) at three times (at 30, 45 and 60 days from sowing) and their interaction. The experimental design was a strip plot with four replicates in both seasons. The important results indicated that increasing NPK rate from 25% to 100% significantly increased leaves chemical composition and resulted in a significant increase in growth traits, earliness traits, yield and its components in both seasons and significantly increased fiber length and strength in one season. Fiber uniformity and fineness did not affect.Foliar application with 7.5 cm3/L vermicompost extract significantly increased leaves chemical composition and recorded a significant increase in growth traits, earliness traits, yield and its components in both seasons, except number of total flowers plant-1 and fiber strength which significantly increased in one season. Fiber length, uniformity index and fineness did not affect in both seasons.Regarding the interaction effect, data show that the best results were obtained from the high level of vermicompost extract (7.5 cm3/L) combined with 100% NPK. It could be concluded this combination under El-Gemmeiza condition, to increase cotton productivity through soil fertility especially in vigor’s cultivar like Giza 86.