Effect of nitrogen and wheat residue on cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i>L.) yield and weed control

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues and nitrogen (N) management are the major problems in the southern part of Iran where irrigated wheat–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat rotation is a common practice. A 2-year (2009–2011) field experiment was conducted as a split plot design with four replications at a cotton field (Darab), Fars Province, Iran, to determine the influence of different rates of wheat residue (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%) incorporation and N rates (150, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha−1) on weed suppression, yield, and yield components of cotton. Results showed that a higher residue incorporation and a lower N rate improved weed suppression in both years. For treatments receiving 150 kg N ha−1 and 75% of wheat residues (2250 kg ha−1), weed biomass and density were significantly lower compared to treatments receiving 400 kg N ha−1. The highest cotton lint yield (about 2400–2700 kg ha−1) was obtained by 300 kg N ha−1 in the absence of residue application, in both years. Incorporation of 25% of wheat residue (750 kg ha−1) and application of 300 kg N ha−1 are recommended to guarantee an optimum level of cotton lint yield and weed suppression in a wheat–cotton–wheat rotation in this region.

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