Response of cotton (gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars to different levels of nitrogen

Response of different cultivars of cotton namely CIM-449, CIM-511 and CIM-707 to varying levels of nitrogen viz 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha/sup -1/ was studied at Agronomic Research Area, Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan. Different nitrogen levels significantly influenced yield and yield components of cotton. Application of N at the rate and 200 kg ha/sup -1/ produced the highest number of bolls plant/sup -1/, maximum average boll weight, maximum number of seeds boll/sup -1/ and seed cotton yield as compared to the other nitrogen rates. Cultivar CIM 499 proved best for producing the highest number of seeds boll/sup -1/, seed cotton yield and fiber characteristics i.e. fiber strength, staple length and uniformity index as compared to other cultivars. (author)