Plant Growth,Yield Components,Economic Responses,and Soil Indigenous K Uptake of Two Cotton Genotypes with Different K-Efficiencies

HG103,a high K-efficiency cotton cultivar with high-yield potential,and LG122,a low K-efficiency cotton cultivar with low-yield potential were used to study the genotypic variation on yield,economic responses,and soil indigenous K exploitation for cotton in pot and field conditions in 2006 and 2007.Results indicated that both the cultivars differed significantly in the rate of translocation of dry matter into reproductive organs and the time of running into reproductive stage.Cotton yield and economic parameters of HG103 were much better than LG122.Potassium content in cotton shells reached the highest level at maturity stage for both genotypes.Results also showed that the K content in each plant part of HG103 was lower than that of LG122.The two genotypes showed different efficiencies and abilities on absorbing soil rapidly available K and slowly available K.LG122 showed higher absorption of K rate than HG103 after K fertilization,but on the contrary,HG103 uptake more soil indigenous K than LG122 in no K fertilization treatment.This result indicated that HG103 could tolerant and absorb more soil indigenous K than LG122,under condition of soil K stress.LG122 could grow well and absorb more K nutrient when soil K supply is sufficient.Our results demonstrated that higher K content in plant tissues and higher K uptake by plant may not an exclusive condition for high yield planting with K fertilization.Earlier translocation of more dry matters into reproductive organs is one of the key mechanisms of high K use efficiency in cotton.

Financial management for custom hire service of tractor in Bangladesh

The main purpose of the study was to determine the economic parameters and effective schedules for tractor operation.Secondary data from various sources were used in this research.Some essential data were collected from primary sources through survey.Operating costs were calculated and project financial profitability was determined by four major factors on farm financial measurement techniques,namely,benefit-cost ratio(BCR),net present value(NPV),internal rate of return(IRR),and payback period.Considering the economic use,land topography and cropping pattern was developed to effective scheduling for tractor operation.The operating cost of tractor with implement was found to be US$9.25 per hectare.For replacement of the existing tractor on expiry of economic life,the entrepreneur has to save an amount of US$219 per year in a bank account.Based on the operating cost,annual savings for replacement and a profit margin for the entrepreneur,the rent-out charge of the tractor is estimated at US$11.58 per hectare.Considering 10%interest rate,the NPV of the tractor at existing condition is US$18757.The NPV of tractor indicates that tractor entrepreneurship is considered financially sound and the project is financially viable,with an average IRR of 36.96%.This is because IRR of the tractor was higher than the bank interest rate and it is highly profitable from the viewpoint of individual investors.The Payback period of tractor with implement was determined as 2.03 yrs.The minimum tenure for an economic use of a common tractor used in agriculture is about 6310 hrs.Above this critical use,the utilization of a tractor is economical for a tractor entrepreneur.Depending on the cropping pattern two major and one minor turn-around periods are available in between cropping seasons for tilling operation.The time available for tilling of land is estimated about 140 days at 12 hours a day in a year.To strengthen the existing capacity of the tractor customer hire service entrepreneurs and develop new entrepreneur,appropriate adoption and dissemination programs must be launched in all over Bangladesh.