Abstract

Fertilizers, in general, play a prominent role in stepping up crop yields. The benefits of irrigation, improved seed and improved management practices are fully realised only with the combination of application of optimum quantity of fertilizers that go to decide the availability of plant nutrients to the growing crop. In the ayacut areas wherever there are facilities for well irrigation, American cotton is being grown and acre yields upto 500 kg of kapas are obtained. The contemplated Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) when completed is likely to irrigate a total area of 2.4 lakhs acres lying in Pollachi, Palladam, Dharapuram and Udamalpet taluks of Coimbatore district. The availability of canal water in the newly developing project will give an impetus to include one of the commercially important crops like cotton in the crop rotation. Information as to the requirement of fertilizers for increased production of cotton under the soil and climatic conditions existing in the PAP areas is presented in this article.

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