Abstract

With a view to explore the possibilities of reducing bud and boll shedding of cotton, an experiment was conducted at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during the winter season of 1984-85 (Aug-Feb) under irrigated condition. Different ratios of NPK with and without 25 kg Z.So/ha, different foliar sprays such as NAA (40 ppm), CCC (40 ppm) and DAP (3%) individually or in combination with and without topping formed the treatments. The study revealed that application of 80:60:60 kg of NPK either with 25 ZnSouha or with foliar spray combination of NAA (40 ppm)+ DAP (3%) and with topping at fifteenth node increased the dry matter production, number of bolls per plant and seed cotton yield followed by application of 80:40:40 kg NPK with 25 kg ZnSosha and they were comparable between themselves. The bud and boll shedding was significantly reduced by the foliar spray combination of NAA (40 ppm) + DAP (3%) along with topping at fifteenth node resulting in increased seed cotton yield. The flower production was significantly reduced due to the spraying of NAA and CCC either individually or in combinations.

Keywords: Agrochemicals, Cotton, Flower Production, Bud, Boll Shedding