Table 1 Variation in soil pH, organic C (%), mineral-N (μg N g ^-1 ), K ₂ O (kg hec ^-1 ), S (ppm), Zn (ppm), Fe (ppm) and Mn (ppm) in non- Bt and Bt planted soils Stages 1. Pre-vegetation; 2. Branching; 3. Flowering; 4. Maturation and 5. Post-harvest

1

non-Bt

6.3 ± 0.11 ^a

0.2 ± 0.12 ^a

8.7 ± 0.57 ^a

135.33 ± 7.85 ^a

5.45 ± 0.03 ^a

0.36 ± 0.03 ^a

4.7 ± 0.20 ^a

2.64 ± 0.29 ^a

Bt

6.3 ± 0.12 ^a

0.2 ± 0.13 ^a

8.7 ± 0.57 ^a

135.33 ± 7.85 ^a

5.45 ± 0.04 ^a

0.36 ± 0.03 ^a

4.7 ± 0.20 ^a

2.64 ± 0.29 ^a

2

non-Bt

6.86 ± 0.06 ^b

0.59 ± 0.06 ^b

14.64 ± 0.5 ^b

169.6 ± 4.97 ^b

6.10 ± 0.17 ^{a b}

0.49 ± 0.03 ^b

5.11 ± 0.01^a

3.33 ± 0.39 ^b

Bt

7.03 ± 0.14 ^b

0.47 ± 0.15 ^a

15.53 ± 0.48 ^b

156.5 ± 3.3 ^b

5.8 ± 0.11 ^{a b}

0.43 ± 0.01 ^b

4.93 ± 0.24^a

3.3 ± 0.13 ^b

3

non-Bt

6.8 ± 0.06 ^b

0.2 ± 0.16 ^a

16.49 ± 0.39 ^c

246.46 ± 2.02 ^c

6.35 ± 0.08 ^{b c}

0.56 ± 0.06 ^b

5.15 ± 0.41 ^a

3.5 ± 0.03 ^b

Bt

7.16 ± 0.31^b

0.66 ± 0.17 ^b

17.33 ± 0.41 ^c

240.4 ± 2.02 ^c

6.01 ± 0.05 ^{b c}

0.53 ± 0.04 ^b

5.06 ± 0.25 ^a

3.47 ± 0.11 ^b

4

non-Bt

6.9 ± 0.06 ^b

0.64 ± 0.18 ^a

15.9 ± 0.69 ^c

217.33 ± 3.38 ^d

6.43 ± 0.26 ^{b d}

0.51 ± 0.03 ^b

6.12 ± 0.25 ^b

3.94 ± 0.01 ^c

Bt

7.14 ± 0.18 ^b

0.55 ± 0.19 ^b

16.94 ± 0.58 ^c

223.23 ± 8.3 ^d

6.21 ± 0.4 ^{b d}

0.46 ± 0.02 ^b

5.46 ± 0.08 ^b

4.04 ± 0.10 ^c

5

non-Bt

6.83 ± 0.08 ^b

0.4 ± 0.20 ^a

11.68 ± 0.54 ^d

141.0 ± 9.31 ^a

6.93 ± 0.7 ^{c d}

0.47 ± 0.20 ^b

4.93 ± 0.19 ^a

3.20 ± 0.04 ^b

Bt

6.96 ± 0.13 ^b

0.26 ± 0.21 ^b

11.14 ± 0.46 ^d

154.46 ± 10.6 ^a

6.97 ± 0.18 ^{c d}

0.41 ± 0.01 ^b

4.73 ± 0.28 ^a

3.24 ± 0.14 ^b

2011

1

non-Bt

6.45 ± 0.05 ^a

0.19 ± 0.02 ^a

8.76 ± 0.69 ^a

140.66 ± 3.8 ^a

5.0 ± 0.15 ^a

0.38 ± 0..01 ^a

4.5 ± 0.03 ^a

2.83 ± 0.49 ^a

Bt

6.45 ± 0.05 ^a

0.19 ± 0.02 ^a

8.76 ± 0.69 ^a

140.66 ± 3.8 ^a

5.0 ± 0.15 ^a

0.38 ± 0..01 ^a

4.5 ± 0.03 ^a

2.83 ± 0.49 ^a

2

non-Bt

6.73 ± 0.06 ^b

0.58 ± 0.05 ^{b d}

15.52 ± 0.36 ^b

182.33 ± 8.19 ^b

5.9 ± 0.15 ^b

0.49 ± 0.02 ^b

5.06 ± 0.12 ^{a b}

3.25 ± 0.16 ^{a b}

Bt

6.93 ± 0.1 ^b

0.54 ± 1.73 ^{b d}

14.32 ± 0.73 ^b

180.33 ± 11.31 ^b

5.66 ± 3.27 ^b

0.44 ± 0.02 ^b

4.75 ± 0.48 ^{a b}

3.4 ± 0.30 ^{a b}

3

non-Bt

6.86 ± 0.03 ^b

0.69 ± 0.04 ^c

17.04 ± 0.29 ^c

246.0 ± 2.03 ^c

6.03 ± 0.08 ^{b c}

0.52 ± 0.05 ^c

5.4 ± 0.15 ^{b c}

3.3 ± 0.15 ^{a b}

Bt

7.16 ± 0.31 ^b

0.61 ± 0.01^c

16.98 ± 0.06 ^c

245.56 ± 2.94 ^c

6.0 ± 0.1 ^{b c}

0.50 ± 0.02 ^c

5.06 ± 0.53 ^{b c}

3.5 ± 0.26 ^{a b}

4

non-Bt

6.9 ± 0.05 ^b

0.64 ± 0.02 ^{c d}

15.29 ± 0.35 ^d

220.0 ± 15.53 ^c

6.5 ± 0.14 ^c

0.50 ± 0.03 ^{b c}

5.96 ± 0.12 ^c

3.81 ± 0.03 ^b

Bt

7.0 ± 0.25 ^b

0.56 ± 0.01 ^{c d}

16.58 ± 0.45 ^d

236.93 ± 4.00 ^c

6.1 ± 0.32^c

0.46 ± 0.04 ^{b c}

5.56 ± 0.28 ^c

4.1 ± 0.55 ^b

5

non-Bt

6.96 ± 0.21 ^b

0.51 ± 0.08 ^{b d}

11.7 ± 0.27 ^e

146.9 ± 11.5 ^a

7.25 ± 0.16 ^d

0.46 ±0.02 ^b

4.7 ± 0.25 ^{b a}

3.0 ± 0.11 ^a

Bt

6.83 ± 0.08 ^b

0.27 ±1.73 ^{b d}

11.64 ± 0.52 ^e

152.3 ± 8.99 ^a

7.08 ± 0.13 ^d

0.4 ± 0.24 ^b

4.63 ±0.23 ^{b a}

3.36 ± 0.07 ^a