Effect of water saving techniques of irrigation and fertigation on growth of Bt. cotton

A field experiment on "Effect of resource conservation techniques of irrigation and fertigation through feed pipe on growth, yield and uptake of Bt. Cotton" was conducted during 2019-20 at AICRP on WM Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar Maharashtra (India). The experiment was conducted in split plot design. The treatments consist of four main plot treatments of irrigation viz., M1: control, M2: 19" feed pipe, M3: pit feed with organic matter and M4: 19" perforated pipe and three sub plot treatments of fertigation viz., S1: 100% RDF, S2: 80% RDF and S3: 60% RDF. Among the above main plot and sub plot treatments, application of irrigation through the 19" feed pipe (M2) with 100% RDF (F1) found highest plant height, maximum number of leaves, maximum leaf area and higher sympodial branches which was significantly superior over the rest of treatments at all the crop growth stages during both years. Whereas, significantly lowest plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and sympodial branches was recorded under the application of irrigation through the treatment control (M1) with the application of 60% RDF (F3) at all the crop growth stages during both years.