Yield and Yield Contributing Traits of Cotton Genotypes as Affected by Sowing Dates
Yield and Yield Contributing Traits of Cotton Genotypes as Affected by Sowing Dates
Niamatullah Khan1*, Najeeb Ullah2, Inam Ullah2 and Asif Imran Shah1
ABSTRACT
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), the White Gold, plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy. It is affected by variable environmental conditions throughout the country which confines its production. Two years field research was conducted at Cotton Research Station, Dera Ismail Khan to assess the impacts of six sowing dates on yield and yield attributing traits of seven cotton varieties during 2015 and 2016. The experiment was laid out in split plot design having three repeats. Sowing dates; March 15, April 01, April 15, May 01, May 15 and June 01 were kept in main plots while sub plot contained seven cotton varieties (CIM-600, CIM-616, CIM-622, CRIS-641, DNH-105, DNH-40 and DNH-57). Results indicated that earlier sowing produced extra vegetative growth rather than seed cotton yield while late planting induced flowering and boll formation when temperature was much cold that adversely affected cotton yield. The results further illustrated that, genotype DNH-105 ranked first for plant population, sympodia per plant, bolls per plant, weight per boll and seed cotton yield when sown on April 01. CIM-616 was the 2nd suitable variety under April 01 sowing. Earlier and later planting produced lower cotton yields due to unfavorable environment and shorter growth duration, respectively. Thus it is concluded that DNH-105 planted on April 01 suits well to the study area and had the potential to optimize cotton yield and quality in irrigated condition of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.
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