Production Potential of Compact Cotton Genotypes to Fertilizer Levels and Growth Retardants Under High Density Planting System

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted under rainfed condition on performance of compact newlinecotton genotypes to different spacings and fertilizer levels (Strip-Split Plot Design) and newlineapplication of growth retardants (RCBD) at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad newlineduring kharif 2014-16. newlineGenotype RAH-274 recorded significantly higher seed cotton yield (SCY) of 3,199 kg newlineha-1 which was on par with RAH-99 and DSC-1351. Higher density of 2,22,222 plants ha-1 newline(45 cm × 10 cm) produced significantly higher SCY (3,372 kg ha-1). Application of 100:50:50 newlinekg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 recorded significantly higher SCY (3,175 kg ha-1). newlineGenotype RAH-274 at 45 cm × 10 cm along with 100:50:50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 newlinerecorded significantly higher SCY, uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (3,668, newline157.5, 32.7 and 141.5 kg ha-1, respectively), net returns ( 1,04,600 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.12) newlineand was on par with RAH-99 and DSC-1351 at same spacing and fertilizer level. Yield newlineparameters were significantly higher in wider spacing. RAH-99 at 60 cm × 15 cm with newline100:50:50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 recorded significantly higher ginning out turn (37.03 %) newlineand seed index (10.11 g). Other quality parameters were higher among the genotypes under newlinecloser spacing irrespective of fertilizer levels. newlineFoliar spray of mepiquat chloride (at 50 and 100 ppm) and lihocin (at 100 and 250 newlineppm) reduced the plant height (18.84 to 31.35 % and 15.25 to 26.18 % from lower to higher newlineconcentration, respectively). Higher SCY (3,187 kg ha-1) and net returns ( 85,871 ha-1) were newlinerecorded using mepiquat chloride at 50 ppm at 90 DAS. newlineRAH-274 at 45 cm × 10 cm along with 100:50:50 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 and newlinemepiquat chloride spray at 50 ppm at 90 DAS gave higher SCY, net returns and reduced the newlineplant height facilitating for mechanical harvesting. newline