The Effect of Date and Rate of Nitrogen Application on Cotton Growth and Yield in the White Nile Basin.

Abstract

The responses of cotton, grown at two sites in Kosti district, to different levels of fertilizer nitrogen were studied at three times of application in the first season and in the second season only two applications were used. The results showed that cotton growth and yield tended to increase with increasing amounts of the nitrogenous fertilizer. However, the rate of increase in yield with increase nitrogen diminished at higher levels, and moreover varied from one season to the other and between locations depending on environmental and management aspects. The second season was thus more conducive to a better response than the first. Summer application of the fertilizer encouraged heavy weed growth and was thus associated with comparatively lower yields. Application of fertilizer at sowing generally favoured better growth and yield than application one month after sowing but the trend was not consistent for the different levels of the two sites.