Optimizing the planting density of new Bt cotton varieties for rainfed Vertisols of Central India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v70i1.5835Keywords:
Bt variety, crop geometry, earliness index, plant density, vertisolsAbstract
Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was introduced in India in the form of hybrids by the private seed industry in 2002. Since hybrid seeds were expensive and its cultivation is input intensive, cotton breeders from the public sector R&D institutes released Bt cotton varieties in 2020 suitable for planting under low input situations. For this first time, this study evaluated the productivity potential of first four Bt varieties viz. ICAR-CICR PKV081-Bt, ICAR-CICR Suraj Bt, ICAR-CICR Rajat Bt, and ICAR-CICR GJHV 374 Bt in a split plot design under rainfed conditions on a Vertisol, sub-group Typic Haplusterts, under four plant densities viz.,0.37 lakh, 0.55 lakh, 0.74 lakh and 1.1 lakh plants/ha. The results indicated that there were significant differences among varieties and plant densities with respect to seed cotton yield, lint yield, boll weight, days to first open flower and earliness index. ICAR-CICR PKV081-Bt was the most productive variety, yielding 2639 kg/ha at 0.37 lakh plants/ha. The interaction (variety × plant density) was significant for seed cotton yield, lint yield and boll density. For varieties, PKV 081 Bt and Rajat Bt, 0.37 lakh plants/ha was optimum whereas for Suraj Bt and GJHV 374 Bt, 0.74 lakh plant/ha was optimum plant density. At densities of 0.74 and 1.1 lakh plant/ha, the plant height increased and the maturity was delayed. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate Bt varieties and optimizing planting density to increase the productivity of rained cotton on Vertisols of Central India.
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