Pandagale et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 14(1): 298-302(2022) 298 ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239 Yield and Quality of Bt Cotton Hybrid NHH 44 (BG II) as Influenced by Moisture Conservation Practices and Fertilizer Levels under Rainfed condition Pandagale A.D. 1* , Asewar B.V. 2 , Baig K.S. 3 , Awasarmal V.B. 4 and Rathod S.S. 5 1 Assistant Agronomist, Cotton Research Station, Nanded, (Maharashtra), India. 2 Associate Dean and Principal, College of Agriculture, Golegaon, (Maharashtra), India. 3 Cotton Specialist, Cotton Research Station, Nanded, (Maharashtra), India. 4 Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, VNMKV, Parbhani, (Maharashtra), India. 5 Senior Research Assistant, Cotton Research Station, Nanded, (Maharashtra), India. (Corresponding author: Pandagale A.D.*) (Received 11 October 2021, Accepted 14 December, 2021) (Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net) ABSTRACT: Crop yield and quality may differ with nutrient management and moisture conservation. Popular public sector intra hirsutum cotton hybrid NHH 44 converted in transgenic version is made available to farmers. Hence, it was necessary to optimize the fertilizer requirement for its higher seed cotton yield and better fiber properties. Hence, a field trial was conducted at Cotton Research Station, Nanded (Maharashtra, India) during kharif 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons to study the effect of moisture conservation techniques and fertilizer levels on yield and quality of Bt cotton hybrid NHH 44 (BG II) under rainfed condition. The experiment was conducted on vertisol in split plot design with three replications. Moisture conservation practices included in main plot were control i.e. M 1 - flat bed; M 2 - opening furrow at 60 DAS; M 3 - application of superabsorbent @ 12.5 kg ha -1 and M 4 - broad bed and furrow. The sub plot treatments were consisted with four fertilizer (NPK) levels viz., F 1 - 80:40:40 NPK kg ha -1 ; F 2 - 100:50:50 NPK kg ha -1 ; F 3 - 120:60:60 NPK kg ha -1 and F 4 - 140:70:70 NPK kg ha -1 . Sowing on broad bed and furrow and opening of furrow at 60 DAS stage has increased number of picked bolls m -2 , seed cotton yield ha -1 , lint yield ha -1 and oil yield ha -1 significantly over control and application of superabsorbent @ 12.5 kg ha -1 . The seed cotton yield, lint yield and oil yield were highest in fertilizer level of 140:70:70 NPK kg ha -1 however, it was on par with 120:60:60 NPK kg ha -1 and both were significantly superior over lower levels. The fiber properties of cotton hybrid NHH 44 BG II remained unaffected due to moisture conservation practices and fertilizer levels except uniformity index which was significantly increased with fertilizer level of 140:70:70 NPK kg ha -1 over lowest level of 80:40:40 NPK kg ha -1 . Keywords: Seed cotton yield, fiber quality, bolls m -2 , lint yield, oil yield. INTRODUCTION India ranks first among the countries that practice rainfed agriculture both in terms of extent and value of production (Sharma, 2011). Rainfed areas in India has major share in production of cereals, legumes, oil seeds and cotton. The share of cotton produced in rainfed region of India is around 65 per cent (Rao et al., 2015). India ranks first in area and second in production of cotton on global level. India shares around 25 per cent in global cotton production. The cotton acreage in India is 129.57 lakh ha with productivity 487 kg lint ha -1 . Maharashtra state contributes to 41.84 lakh ha area majority under rainfed condition. Vidarbha and Marathwada region are the traditional cotton growing area in rainfed ecosystem. These areas often experience dry spells during the crop growing period. Vegetative growth and metabolic processes are adversely affected due to moisture stress especially in grand growth stages. Moisture conservation measures carried in-situ increase infiltration by reducing run off and temporarily impounding of water, there by improve soil moisture and resulting nutrient availability. Crop growth and yield depends upon suitable moisture condition and temperature. Proper soil moisture conservation practice not only improves soil moisture also enhances growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency. Many moisture conservation techniques were developed and evaluated, opening of furrow and broad bed and furrow were proved for sustainable yield (Muthamilselvan et al., 2020). Superabsorbent polymers are also suitable materials for adequate water requirement and prevention from water and nutrient loss from rhizosphere soil (Fallahi et al., 2015). Yield of cotton were improved after availability of GM technology. Thus, it is necessary to supply adequate nutrients as needed by the crop. The optimum requirement of NPK nutrients for achieving the maximum yield of Bt cotton varies from location to Biological Forum – An International Journal 14(1): 298-302(2022)