Vol. 8, Special Issue 11, Part I (2024)

A field experiment entitled “Effect of natural zeolite on yield, nutrient uptake of cotton and available fertility status of soil in saline tract of Purna valley” was carried out during kharif season of the year 2023-24 at four farmers field of saline tract of Purna valley of Akola district. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of natural zeolite and fertilizer levels on the yield, nutrient uptake and available fertility status of soil of Bt. Cotton (Ajeet-199) grown in vertisol soil. The experiment was designed using a randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments and four replications. Treatments included varying levels of zeolite (150, 300, and 450 kg ha⁻¹) in combination with 75% and 100% of the recommended fertilizer dose (RDF: 90:45:45 NPK kg ha⁻¹). The result revealed that the seed yield and stalk yield of cotton were recorded significantly highest with the application of 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 450 kg ha^-1 was found at par with 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 300 kg ha^-1. The lowest seed cotton and stalk yield of cotton were recorded in absolute control. The content and uptake of seed cotton, uptake of stalk cotton and total uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were recorded significantly highest with 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 450 kg ha^-1 which was found at par with 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 300 kg ha^-1 and superior over the rest of the treatments. The available fertility status of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were recorded significantly highest with 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 450 kg ha^-1 was found at par with 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 300 kg ha^-1 and found lowest in absolute control. Hence it can be concluded that, the application of 100% RDF + Zeolite @ 300 kg ha⁻¹ recorded significantly highest seed cotton and stalk yield of cotton, significantly enhanced total nutrient uptake of N, P and K by cotton and available fertility status of soil.