The assessment of the energy requirements of Bt cotton was carried out during kharif 2021-22 at College farm, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The aim of this research is to determine the energy input and output involved in Bt cotton production. The average energy consumption of Bt cotton production investigated in this study was 18302 MJ ha-1. The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD consisting of four levels of planting densities viz., 90 × 15 cm, 90 × 20 cm, 90 × 30 cm and 90 × 60 cm as factor I treatments and 4 levels of nitrogen viz., 90, 120, 150, 180 kg N ha-1 as factor II treatments and replicated thrice. Results depicted that among plant spacing, the total input and output energy of Bt cotton were about 17942 to 18680 and 81529 to 114707 MJ ha-1, respectively. Significantly, higher net energy (96027 MJ kg-1), energy ratio (6.17), energy productivity (0.117 kg MJ-1) and lower specific energy (8.56 MJ kg-1) was recorded with closer spacing of 90 × 15 cm and was at par with spacing 90 × 20 cm. Regarding nitrogen doses, the total input and output energy of Bt cotton ranged between 15430 to 21275 and 88543 to 106883 MJ ha-1, respectively. Where, significantly higher net energy (86508 MJ kg-1) was recorded with 150 kg N ha-1 and was comparable with application of 180 and 120 kg N ha-1. While, significantly lower specific energy (8.95 MJ kg-1) required to produce higher energy productivity (0.113 kgMJ-1) and energy ratio (5.76 MJ kg-1) were recorded with application of 120 kg N ha-1 and was on par with application of 90 and 150 kg N ha-1.

Bt cotton, Energy ratio, High density planting, Input energy use, Nitrogen

The research was carried out to determine the impact of various energy characteristics on Bt cotton yields and observed that nitrogen fertilizer, diesel fuel and chemical used for herbicide control were found to be the most energy consuming among all other forms of input energy. In certain cases, over application of fertilizer has adverse implications on crop output. From this investigation, high density planting with closer spacing of 90 × 15 cm utilised lower amount of energy (8.56 MJ kg-1) to produce higher energy ratio (6.17), net energy (96027 MJ kg-1) and energy productivity (0.117 kg MJ-1). While, with application of 120 kg N ha-1 consumed less amount of energy (8.95 MJ kg-1) to produce higher energy ratio (5.76) and energy productivity (0.113 kg MJ-1). Thus, indicating that high density planting is suitable crop under rainfed environment producing higher seed output, net energy yield, and eventually increased energy use efficiency of inputs.

D. Kavya, Ch. Pragathi Kumari, G. Sreenivas and T. Ram Prakash (2022). An Analysis of Energy Balance Studies on Bt Cotton Production under High Density Planting System In Telangana. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 467-471.