Inluence of high density planting system in Gossypium hirsutum genotypes under rainfed light soils

Abstract

The on farm demonstration was carried out in farmer’s fields in five locations of Khammam District of Central Telangana Zone in three consecutive seasons of kharif 2015, 2016 and 2017 by District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre, Khammam. To study on high density planting of cotton genotypes under rainfed light soils. Four genotypes and three spacing’s were imposed to find out optimum plant stand along with cotton genotypes viz., V1-SURAJ, V2-NDLH-1938, V3-WGCV-48 and V4- BT (NEERAJA) under three spacing’s S1-45X10 cm, S2-90X30 cm S3-100X100 cm in rainfed light soils. The investigation result on pooled basis showed that the maximum plant height (164.8 cm), sympodia branches (16.6), Significantly highest No of bolls/Plant (45.9) and No of bolls/ m-2 (110.9) and highest Boll weight (g) (3.50) and higher seed cotton yield (1811.6 kg/ha) was recorded in (V4) BT (NEERAJA) over other varieties. However V2 (NDLH-1938) and V3 (WGCV-48) were at par each other. The lowest plant height (132.4 cm), Sympodia branches (9.8), No of bolls/Plant (19.7) and No of bolls/ m-2 (78.7), Boll weight (g) (3.16), and yield (966.5 kg/ha) was recorded in V1 (SURAJ) variety because V1, V2 and V3 genotypes were non BT varieties similarly the pest incidence were more than V4 (BT- NEERAJA). S3-100X100 cm plant geometry recorded highest plant height (154.9 cm), Sympodia branches per plant (16.1), No of bolls/Plant (49.7) and significantly maximum No of bolls/ m-2 (177.0) and seed cotton yield (1828.6 kg/ha) recorded with S2-90 X30 cm. The lowest seed cotton yield (1213.2 kg/ha) was noticed with S1-45 X10 cm due to closer spacing greater competition between inter plants.