ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 553-557, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of soil quality parameters and yield of rainfed Bt. Cotton as influenced by application of herbicides in Vertisols
M. S. Deshmukh1, V. D. Patil2 , A. S. Jadhav3 G. D. Gadade4 and A.L. Dhamak5
College of Agriculture, Marathwada Krishi Vidaypeeth, Parbhani – 431 402 (MS), India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 18 June, 2013
Abstract
The present study pertains to the effect of different herbicides viz. Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ai ha-1 as a pre emergence herbicide, Pyrithiobacksodium @ 62.5 g ai ha-1, Quazolfopethyl @ 40 g ai ha-1, Fenoxyprop @ 12 g ai ha-1 as a post emergence herbicide (25 DAS) and management practices on physico-chemical, biological properties, seed cotton, dry matter yield and soil fertility status. The results revealed that organic carbon content (8.0 g kg-1), soil porosity (48 per cent) and cation exchange capacity (63.66 cmol (p+) kg-1) was significantly higher in the plots treated with 3 hoeings and 3 hand weedings as compared to all other herbicide treatments applied as a pre and post emergence. Almost similar trend was observed in the seed cotton yield (1868 kg ha-1), dry matter yield (2835 kg ha-1), available N (184.90 kg ha-1), available P (11.70 kg ha-1) and available K (666.20 kg ha-1). The practice of 3 hoeing and 3 hand weedings showed the highest efficiency in weed control and thus reflected in higher yields when maintaining soil fertility status.
Key words: Soil quality, herbicides, seed cotton yield, soil fertility, microbial count.