EVALUATION OF DEEP BAND PLACEMENT OF A N-K BLEND: A LEAF ANALYSIS COMPARISON

Clinton Pettiet

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the effect of deep placed nitrogen and potassium on the nutrient status and plant condition of cotton during the fruiting period. Field observations revealed that the combination of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers placed deep in the drill area improved the rooting depth and stalk strength of cotton as compared to the check. Rooting depth was increased by all treatments in which the drill area was ripped deep using the deep placement implement. Plant height and branch development were also increased during the early period by the addition of deep placed nitrogen.

Deep placement of nitrogen provided no differences in percent leaf nitrogen the first four weeks of the sampling period. However, percent nitrogen increased as the plants matured. The combination of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer placed deep had no effect on potassium concentrations in the leaf blade over the sampling period as compared to muriate of potash (0-0-60) alone. Leaf blade potassium was increased by the deep placement of potash as compared to an equivalent rate dribbled in-furrow.

First pick lint yields were reduced in all treatments as compared to the check. Ripping of the drill area and adding fertilizer under the row improved plant height, yet delayed maturity. Deep placement of nitrogen in combination with potassium delayed maturity even further and reduced the number of harvestable first pick bolls as compared to all other treatments.





[Main TOC] | [TOC] | [TOC by Section] | [Search] | [Help]
Previous Page [Previous] [Next] Next Page

Document last modified July 8, 2004