Agricultural and Biological Research

Effect of fertilization and weeding type on the cotton production in Benin

Ibouraiman Balogoun*, Charlotte Carmelle Zoundji, Sylvain Ladekpo Ogoudjobi, Ezechiel Orou Bero, Crésus Renaud-Marie Ayiayite, Rebecca Jesugnon Azongbe and Appolinaire Adandonon

Soil fertility and land degradation have become a major problem in agricultural production in general and specially in cotton production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fertilization and weeding-butting on cotton growth and production. Thus, it studied the effect of several fertilizers associated with weeding type on cotton production. The experimental design used was a split plot with two factors: Fertilization application at four levels (no fertilization, mineral fertilization, organic fertilization, organic and mineral fertilization) and the weeding type at two levels (weeding-butting and simple weeding). The data collected were: Height and collar diameter, number of bolls and cotton fiber. The results showed that organic and mineral fertilization followed by weeding-butting significantly (P<0.05) improved height growth of plant (128.28 cm), diameter at the collar of the plants (1.86 cm), the number of bolls (18.46) and cotton fiber yield (3.17 t/ha). Organic and mineral fertilization associated with weeding-butting could be recommended to farmers for soil fertility and cotton production improvement.