Comparative study of high-density planting straight cotton varieties with normal sown Bt hybrids

Abstract

Experimental data revealed that three-year (2020-2022) experiment and pooled analysis, it was observed that all the varieties exhibited early maturity, if sowing of cotton done with spacing 60cm x 20cm. Varieties sown under HDPS produces lesser number of bolls than normally sown hybrids, however produced a higher total boll numbers in particular area. Hybrid Rasi Magic, (51.1) was recorded significantly maximum bolls on plant basis, however, it was produced a minimum count of bolls per square meter (70.3), in contrast, the minimum boll number on plant basis were found under HDPS, but it was maximum under area basis and it has affected on seed cotton yield per plot and hectare. The genotype RHC-1651 exhibited maximum seed cotton yield under HDPS planting (52.7 q/ha), followed by Phule-688 (45.5 q/ha). However, in conventional sowing Bt cotton hybrids, Rasi Magic (35.5 q/ha), Dhandev (33.6 q/ha) and Ajeet-1155 (31.6 q/ha) and Dhandev (34.73 q/ha) exhibited minimum yield of seed cotton as compared to varieties under HDPS. Normal sowing of Bt cotton hybrids at 120 cm x 60 cm spacing, yield of seed cotton was found to be decreased because plant-to-plant and row-to-row spacing was more which caused plant population reduction which has ultimately resulted in yield reduction. It was revealed that varieties planted under HDPS recorded the more gross returns (RHC-1651-Rs. 321023 ha-1), net returns (Rs. 206113 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.8) as compared to another varieties under HDPS and Bt hybrids under normal sowing.