Effect of nutrient management practices on yield and economics of organic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

A field experiment was conducted in organic block of Main Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Raichur, during kharif 2018 to study the effect of nutrient management practices in organic cotton production under irrigated condition. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with eleven treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted application of 50% RDN through compost (25%) + vermicompost (25%) and compost (25%) + poultry manure (25%) as basal dose along with vermicompost (50%) and poultry manure equivalent to 50% RDN as top dress in equal splits at 30 and 60 DAS alone and in combination with foliar spray of 3% panchagavya alternated with 10% vermiwash at 45, 60, 75 and 90 DAS and compost (100% RDN) as basal dose alone and in combination with vermicompost and poultry manure on equivalent basis (50:50). The results indicated that application of compost + vermicompost equivalent to 50% RDN as basal dose + vermicompost (50% RDN) as top dress + panchagavya spray alternated with vermiwash recorded significantly higher seed cotton yield (1323 kg ha^-1) and was on par with compost + poultry manure equivalent to 50% RDN as basal dose + vermicompost (50% RDN) as top dress + panchagavya spray alternated with vermiwash (1252 kg ha^-1), compost + vermicompost equivalent to 50% RDN as basal dose + poultry manure (50% RDN) as top dress + panchagavya spray alternated with vermiwash (1249 kg ha^-1), compost + vermicompost equivalent to 50% RDN as basal dose + vermicompost (50% RDN) as top dress (1248 kg ha^-1) and compost + poultry manure equivalent to 50% RDN as basal dose + poultry manure (50% RDN) as top dress + panchagavya spray alternated with vermiwash (1203 kg ha^-1) over compost alone (1044 kg ha^-1). Similar trend as that of seed cotton yield in respect of net returns and BC ratio was also seen.