Evaluation of Foliar Application of Different Types of Nanofertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality Parameters and Nutrient Concentration of Cotton under Irrigated Condition

Abstract

Two years (2014-15 and 2015-16) of field experiments were conducted under winter irrigated conditions on Periyanaicken palayam soil series (Vertic Ustropept) at Central Institute for Cotton Research, Regional Station, Coimbatore to study the effect of different types of commercially available nanofertilizers on cotton growth and yield. Combined form of macro and micronutrient nanofertilizers (NF 1, NF 2, NF 3 and NF 4) compared with recommended dose of combined form of normal micronutrient fertilizers which were sprayed on cotton (var: Suraj) at 30 and 90 DAS. The results clearly revealed that foliar application of recommended dose of NF 3 and NF 4 nanofertilizers significantly increased the seed cotton yield by 16.0 and 14.4 % respectively over normal recommended dose of micronutrients which was followed by NF 2 (9.5 %) and NF 1 (9.2 %) nanofertilizers. However, fibre quality parameters were not significantly influenced by foliar application of commercially available nanofertilizers. All the macro nutrients (N, P and K) concentration were significantly affected in one or both years due to foliar spraying of commercially available nanofertilizers, but among the micronutrients, copper is the only micronutrient to show their significance. Overall, application of commercially available nanofertilizers considerably increased the number of opened bolls, boll weight and seed cotton yield as compared to normal recommended dose of micronutrients and control.