Muhammad Arshad

Value Added Organic Fertilizer: for Enhanced Cotton Production Muhammad Arshad

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the main cash crops of Pakistan. It has played a significant role in industrial development and employment generation. It is known as backbone of Pakistan?s economy. Its impact on the economic development of the country is well established and it is rightly known as silver fiber of Pakistan. It occupies the 2nd position with respect to cultivated area in the country. During 2007-08 the cotton production was 12 million bales from an area of 3.05 million ha (Anonymous, 2008). Chemical fertilizers which have nutrients available, can provide sufficient nutrients to the crops, but their cost and constrains frequently deter farmers from using them in recommended quantities and balanced proportions. Moreover, limited availability of chemical fertilizers and their high cost are making their use difficult for the farmers. No doubt, use of chemical fertilizer provides essential nutrients for crop improvement to obtain higher yields; however, data of recent years reflect that the crop yields in Pakistan are almost stagnant. This situation warrants the use of organic sources of nutrients.