02. Comparative performance of cotton cultivars under conventional and ultra-narrow row (UNR) spacing
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Abstract
Maximum yield potential of a variety can be achieved by attaining optimum plant population per unit area. Among different agronomic practices, row spacing plays a key role in maintaining optimum plant population of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with improvement in its yield and quality. Two years field experiment was conducted at Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan to investigate the performance of four cotton cultivars i.e. NIAB-111, BH-160, MNH-786 and CIM-496 planted at ultra-narrow row (UNR, 30 cm) and conventional row spacing (75 cm). Experiment was laid out following randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. Row spacing and cotton cultivars significantly affected the growth, yield and quality parameters except uniformity index. MNH-786 produced tallest plants and maximum number of squares, flowers, opened bolls per plant, average boll weight, and seed index ultimately increased seed cotton, cotton seed and lint yield.UNR spaced plants produced higher seed cotton, cotton seed and lint yield which seems to be the result of higher number of plants per unit area. Thus, it may be concluded that MNH-786 should be grown at 30 row spacing to get maximum yield.
Keywords: Plant density; Inter-row spacing; Cultivars; Fiber length; Gossypium hirsutum