Analysis of suitable fertilization levels and benefits of early maturing cotton in regard to different plant types

The optimum fertilizer application rate and economic benefit of early maturing cotton in the Yangtze River Basin were studied. The cotton varieties (Wankemian-1 and Wanmian-191) and fertilizer application rates (F1, F2, F3) were set in the main cotton producing area of Anhui Province by field split plot experiment. The effects of different fertilizer application rates on growth, yield, quality and economic benefit of early maturing cotton were analyzed. The results showed that the growth period, first fruit segment, fruit branch number and plant height of the two varieties increased significantly with the increase of fertilizer application amount. When the yield of seed cotton and lint reached F2 level, Wankemian-1 decreased, and Wanmian-191 increased slightly. Cotton fiber quality Wankemian-1 was more sensitive to the effect of fertilizer application. The suitable fertilizer application rates for early maturing cotton varieties in this area were N 160 kg ha(-1), P2O5 40 kg ha(-1), and K2O 80 kg ha(-1). The economic benefit of 50% of conventional spring cotton fertilizer was significantly higher than that of the other two treatments, and the total economic benefit of Wanmian-191 was higher than that of Wankemian-1. The suitable fertilizer application rate can improve the planting efficiency of early maturing cotton in the Yangtze River Basin and has an important guiding effect on the cultivation of green cotton with high quality and high yield in this area.