Effect of number of plants per hill in respect to plant geometry in Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under rainfed condition

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Cotton Research Station, Nanded during three cropping seasons (2012-15) to evaluate effect of one plant hill-1 under different plant geometries in comparison with two plants hill-1 under rainfed condition. The treatments were factorial combinations of three plant geometries (90 x 60 cm, 120 x 45 cm and 150 x 30 cm) and number of plants hill-1 (one and two plants hill-1). There was 12.08 per cent increase in seed cotton yield when Bt cotton was planted in 120 x 45 cm geometry over that of 150 x 30 cm. Similarly increase in bolls plant-1, boll weight, yield plant-1 and monetary returns were also received from 120 x 45 cm geometry over wider. The one and two plants per hill-1 had non-significant results for seed cotton yield, yield attributes although number of branches were more in two plants hill-1. The Moisture content in soil at 60 DAS and ginning out turn were not affected significantly due to plant geometries and number of plants hill-1.