Effect of nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes and yield of coloured cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton (Gossypium spp.), often referred to as “white gold” and “the king of fibers”, is a major commercial fiber crop cultivated across various agroclimatic conditions, primarily used in the textile industry to manufacture fabrics. However, conventional white cotton production is associated with several environmental challenges including excessive water consumption, reliance on synthetic chemicals and the use of synthetic dyes, which contribute to soil degradation, water pollution and health hazards for farmers. In contrast, organic coloured cotton presents a sustainable alternative by naturally producing coloured fibres without the need for synthetic dyes. Additionally, it enhances soil fertility, conserves water and minimizes chemical inputs, providing ecological benefits while supporting the well-being of farming communities. The field experiments were carried out at the Central Farm, Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, during the Kharif 2023 and Summer 2024 seasons. The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of various nutrient management practices on the growth characteristics, yield attributes and yield of coloured cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. Vaidehi 1. The experiment was designed using a randomized block design with nine treatments based on N-equivalence using different organic manures compared to inorganic fertilizers and replicated three times. The results indicated a significant increase in the growth characters (plant height, number of vegetative branches plant−1 and number of fruiting branches plant−1), yield attributes (number of fruiting points plant−1, number of bolls plant−1, number of bolls m−2, boll setting % and boll weight) and yield (seed cotton yield, lint cotton yield, stalk yield and biological yield) of coloured cotton with the application of 100% NPK applied through site-specific recommendation (T2), which was statistically on par with 100% NPK through blanket recommendation (T1). These were followed by the organic treatments like complete organic package (T9), cover crop with vermicompost (T4), cover crop with poultry manure (T5) and all other organic treatments during both seasons. No significant variations were recorded in the first fruiting node, length of fruiting branches as well as harvest index and lint percentage across the different nutrient management strategies.

Cotton yield can be stabilized by regulating the number and weight of bolls through the application of growth regulators. A field experiment was conducted in Xiaya, Xinjiang, from 2021 to 2023. The primary treatment involved a 40% pyraclostrobin suspension (300 mL/ha) combined with different growth regulators: 14-hydroxylated brassinosteroid (150 mL/ha, M1), 0.1% thidiazuron (150 mL/ha, M2), or 8% diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (150 g/ha, M3). Clear water (M0) was used as the control treatment. This study examined the interaction between year and treatment and analyzed key factors affecting cotton yield. The results indicated a significant interaction effect between chemical treatments and yield across the years. All treatments led to an increase in yield compared with the control, with notable improvements in the number of bolls per unit area, boll weight, leaf area index, and net photosynthesis rate of cotton leaves. From a spatial perspective, the treatments effectively enhanced the number of bolls in the upper part of the plant. A positive correlation was observed between the number of new bolls and seed cotton yield. Among the treatments, the M2 treatment proved to be the most effective, which substantially increased the number of bolls in the upper part of the plant, as well as the total number of bolls per unit area and boll weight, resulting in a significant yield improvement. These findings can guide the development of chemical regulation strategies for cotton production in the Aksu region of Xinjiang, China, providing a valuable reference for enhancing local cotton yield.

Two experiments were carried out at Sakha Agriculture Research Station, Cotton Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt. The aim of this investigation was to study heterosis and combining ability for the most important traits of cotton (boll weight, seed cotton yield, lint yield, lint percentage, number of bolls per plant and seed index). Eight cotton genotypes 10229 x G.86, G.45, Pima S1, Suven, TNB, CB.58, G. 70 and G. 93 were crossed in half diallel mating design in 2011 season to obtain 28 single crosses. These parents and their respective 28 F1 crosses were evaluated in two planting dates (April and May) in a randomized complete blocks design in 2012 season. The results obtained could be summarized as follows:- 1- Highly significant mean square values were obtained for genotypes, genotypes x dates, parents x dates, crosses x dates for all the studied traits. 2- The best general combiner for most of studied traits was parent (10229 x G. 86). Also the best general combiners for most of studied traits were crosses (10229 x G. 86) x Pima S1, G.45 x G.70, CB.58 x G.70 and CB.58 x G.93 3- The parent (10229 x G. 86) had the best general combining ability for boll weight, seed cotton yield, lint yield and lint percentage under two sowing dates and their combined. 4- The crosses CB.58 x G.93 and G.45 x G.70 showed highly significant desirable specific combining ability for boll weight, seed cotton yield, lint yield and number of bolls per plant at two sowing dates and their combined. 5- Positive heterotic effects relative to the mid-parent were found for most of the traits in the crosses (10229 x G.86) x G.45, G.45 x Suven, G.45 x G.70, TNB x G.70 and C.B 58 x G.93. Also positive heterotic effects relative to the better parent were found for most of the traits in the crosses (10229 x G.86) x TNB, G.45 x Suven and G.45 x G.70 over two planting dates and their combined. 6- Dominance effects were important in the inheritance of boll weight, seed cotton yield and number of bolls per plant traits. The additive gene effects contribute the major portion of gene pool for lint yield, lint percentage and seed index traits. 7- Heritability estimates in narrow sense were low to high for all the studied traits, ranged from 32.17% for seed cotton yield to 91% for boll weight for the combined data. 8- From these results it could be concluded that the crosses CB.58 x G.93 and G.45 x G.70 appeared to be promising for late-planted tolerance therefore could be exploited in breeding program aiming to improve late-planting tolerance.

We aimed to investigate the effects of some seed priming and foliar applications on stress prevention in cotton under deficit irrigation conditions. Seed priming with mepiquat chloride (PIX) and foliar applications of salicylic acid (SA) and proline (PRO) were tested at three levels of irrigation at 25, 50, and 100% of field capacity. Plant height, boll number, fiber length and fiber strength were significantly affected by the interaction of irrigation level × treatment. The effects of irrigation level and treatment were significant for boll weight, seed index, seed cotton yield and lint yield. When deficit irrigation conditions (25%) were compared with full irrigation, plant height decreased by 21.6 %, boll number by 18.1 %, boll weight by 26.0%, seed index by 5.8%, seed cotton yield by 25.6% and lint yield by 24.6%. Seed priming with PIX and foliar application of PRO produced significantly higher seed cotton and lint yields, whereas SA application had favourable fiber quality parameters under deficit irrigation conditions. PRO slightly increased fiber fineness. Foliar application of SA positively affected chlorophyll content (SPAD) and leaf area index (LAI) under deficit irrigation. In conclusion, it was recommended that all three practices could be successfully used to alleviate negative impacts under deficit irrigation conditions.

Intercropping in cotton is one of the best approachs to improve the food security and soil fertility in addition to that of generating cash income of the rural poor. At present intercropping is common in conventional agriculture to augment the land use and also symbolic in reducing the weeds infestation. But, introducing superfluity population of intercrops without reducing the base crop population is of preeminence. Therefore field experiments were conducted at farmer’s field located at Erode District in Tamil Nadu, India (during 2018-2019) to investigate the compatible, remunerative and best smothering intercrops on the base crop, cotton. The experiment was outlayed in randomized block design with three replications. The treatment encompass of seven treatments viz., Cotton alone (Gossypium hirsutum L.), Cotton + Blackgram (Vigna mungo), Cotton + Greengram (Vigna radiata), Cotton + Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Cotton + Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Cotton + Onion (Allium cepa) and Cotton + Sesame (Sesamum indicum). The study clearly showed that among the treatments Cotton + Cowpea showed superior response in growth attributes like plant height (harvest stage) (153.23 cm), LAI -Leaf Area Index at 70 DAS (6.18), DMP – Dry Matter Production at harvest ( 6788.01 kg per ha) and yield attributes like number of Monopodial branches per plant (3.22), number of Sympodial branches per plant (19.62), number of squares per plant (48.83), number of bolls per plant (32.23), boll weight (3.98 g) and seed cotton yield (2455.70 t ha-1) and next in order was Cotton + Blackgram. The result evidently proved that Cotton + Cowpea will be an appropriate intercropping system for cotton and it was having considerable increase in growth and yield of cotton.

Cotton is a very important crop that consists of traits with different associationship due to genetic and environmental factors. In order to determine the degree of association between seed cotton yield and important traits, a study was done using an RBD experiment with 30 hybrids. Seed cotton yield, plant height, GOT, number of sympodial braches, boll weight, bolls per plant, span length, fineness and strength data were collected and analysed. The experiment was done with 30 F1 hybrids have delivered through Line x Tester mating configuration utilizing six lines and five testers were planted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two replications at the Department of Cotton, TNAU, Coimbatore. Seed cotton yield per plant was found to have significant positive genotypic connection with boll weight (0.5810), number of bolls per plant (0.3867), plant height (0.422) and ginning percent (0.2182) however altogether and contrarily related with consistency proportion at genotypic level. The phenotypic relationship esteems likewise uncovered that seed cotton yield per plant had highly huge and positive phenotypic connection with number of bolls per plant (0.3470) and boll weight (0.4763). Path coefficients were processed to assess the commitment of individual characters to yield in cotton. The way investigation demonstrated high certain immediate impact of number of bolls per plant (0.4743) and fiber strength (0.6880) on seed cotton yield. Micronaire value displayed high sure circuitous impact on seed cotton yield through range length (0.3393), the outcome showed that number of bolls per plant had a high sure relationship with seed cotton yield and sympodial per plant recorded low certain connection with seed cotton yield. It was therefore concluded that selection of high yielding cotton hybrids could emphasize more on lint yield, boll weights, plant height and bolls per plant for better-performing lines. Gin outturn and fibre strength could be used indirectly to improve seed cotton yield through other traits.

An experiment was executed during Kharif 2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur in randomized block design (RBD) in two replications for estimation of combining ability of the parents and gene effects and also the extent of heterosis using line × tester fashion design. Statistical data were collected on the biometrical observations viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), number of monopodia/ plant, number of sympodia/plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight (g), seed index (g), lint index (g), Ginning Out Turn (GOT %), seed cotton yield (kg/ha) and lint yield (kg/ha). The lines GISV298 and SCS1207; the testers, Lam GPC 501 and Lam GPC 355 exhibited positive General Combining Ability (GCA) effects for the traits Ginning Out Turn (GOT%), Seed Cotton Yield (SCY) and Lint Yield (LY) signifying that these were good general combiners. The cross combinations viz., TCH1837/GP117, GISV298/GP274, and SCS1207 / GP117 expressed significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects for Seed Cotton Yield (SCY) and Lint Yield (LY). The cross combination, SCS1207/ Lam GPC 355 was identified as the best hybrid combination with high GCA and SCA for important traits like GOT, seed cotton yield, and lint yield coupled with significant positive heterosis which can be further tested in multi-location testing at the station and all India level.

This current study was performed to determine the influences of plant spacing, Nitrogen (N) fertilization rate and their effect, on growth traits, yield, and yield components of cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) cv. Giza 97 during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. A split plot experiment in three replicates was utilized whereas the cotton seeds were planted at 20, 30, and 40 cm, as main plots and nitrogen at 75, 100, and 125%, was in subplots. The results revealed that the planting spacing at 40 cm significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased plant height, number of fruiting branches per plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight (BW), lint percentage (L%), seed cotton yield (SCY), lint cotton yield (LCY), seed index and lint index by 165.68 cm, 20.92, 23.93, 3.75 g, 42.01%, 4.24 ton/ha, 5.16 ton/ha, 12.05, 7.86, respectively, as average in both seasons. The application of N fertilizer rate at 125% caused a maximum increase in growth and yield parameters i.e., plant height (169.08 cm), number of vegetative branches (2.67), number of fruiting branches per plant (20.82), number bolls per fruiting branch (1.39), number of bolls per plant (23.73), boll weight (4.1 g), lint percent (41.9%), seed index (11.8 g), and lint index (8.2), while the plants treated with 100% N rates exhibited highest seed cotton yield (4.3 ton/ha) and lint cotton yield (5.6 ton/ha), as average in both seasons. Combining plant spacing at 40 cm between plants with a 100% N fertilizer rate recorded the highest lint cotton yield (5.67 ton/ha), while the highest seed cotton yield (4.43 and 4.50 ton/ha) was obtained from 125% N fertilizer rate under planting spacing 20 and 40 cm, respectively. Conclusively, a wide density (40 cm) with 125% N is a promising option for improved biomass, cotton growth, yield, physiological traits, and fiber quality.

Tow field experiment, were conducted at El-Serw Agricultural Experiment Station, Damietta Governorate, to study the effect of phosphorus fertilizer levels ( 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg P2O5/fed.), potassium fertilizer levels (0, 24, 48 and 72 Kg K2O/ fed.) and their combinations on cotton plant. Vegetative samples from the first full mature leaf were taken just preflowering to determine N, P and K concentrations. Some yield components (number of open bolls /plant, boll weight, seed plant index and oil with lint percentages) and cotton yield (seed cotton yield, seed yield, lint yield and oil yield) were determined. Obtained results can be summarized as follows: 1- Phosphorus or potassium application increased significantly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations in cotton leaves , while combination with each other did not significantly. 2- Number of open bolls/ plant , boll weight , seed index , oil percentage lint percentage ,seed cotton yield, seed yield, lint yield and oil yield were increased significantly by phosphorus or potassium application either alone or in combination with each other in both the two seasons ,while number of open bolls /plant was not affected significantly in the second season. The highest rate of phosphate (45 Kg P2O5 /fed.) and potassium (72 Kg K2O/ fed.) recorded the maximum responses. 3- No significant differences were found between the highest two rates of P and K fertilizer on the above mentioned measurements. 4- Lint and oil percentages were correlated significantly with nitrogen , phosphorus and potassium concentrations. 5- It is concluded that application of (65 Kg N/ fed. + 30 Kg P2O5/fed.+48 Kg K2O/fed.) was the best treatment for cotton grown in salt affected soils in the north of Delta.

Therefore, a simple, completely factorial randomized pot experiment was conducted during 2018 at pot culture yard, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Annamalai University to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic sources and levels of boron on growth and yield, quality attributes and uptake by cotton under salt stress condition. The experiment was conducted with four levels of boron (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg//kg of soil) through three sources viz., borox, solubar and magnesium borohumate complexes. The cotton variety LRA5166 was used as test variety. The results revealed that application of 1.5 kg of B through magnesium borohumate (MBH) complex recorded the higher plant height (124.6 cm), leaf area index (4.82), DMP (216 g/pot), yield components like number of bolls per plant (18.20), and mean boll weight (3.92) of cotton in saline sodic soil. Furthermore, higher seed cotton yield (93.51 g/pot), seed yield (54.72 g/pot) and lint yield (33.53 72 g/pot) were also recorded. This was on par with application of 1.0 kg of B through magnesium borohumate and recorded the plant height (122.81 cm), leaf area index (4.7), DMP (213 g/pot), yield components like number of bolls per plant (17.4), and mean boll weight (3.83 g), seed cotton yield (92.71 g/pot), seed yield (54.1 g/pot) and lint yield (32.96 g/pot) and followed by S2L4 (1.5 kg of B through solubar). The conclusion made from this study is the application of boron through 1.0 kg of B through magnesium borohumate will sustainably increase the cotton yield in saline sodic soil.

The present study was aimed to explore the effects of different sources and levels of zinc on growth and yield of cotton in saline sodic soil. A pot experiment was conducted in Factorial Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The treatments consisted of three different sources of zinc namely zinc sulphate, zinc–EDTA and zinc humate and four levels of Zn (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg-1). Cotton variety MCU-7 was grown as test crop. The growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index(LAI), number of monopodial branches plant-1, number of sympodial branches plant-1 and number of squares plant-1 and yield parameters like number of bolls per plant, boll weight were recorded at appropriate stages of crop growth. The seed cotton yield, lint yield and seed yield were recorded in each pot separately. The results of the study indicated that application of Zn significantly increased the growth and yield parameters of the cotton. Among the three sources, Zn-humate recorded the highest mean plant height, leaf area index, number of monopodial plant-1, number of sympodial plant-1 and number of squares plant -1as compared to other two sources. Highest yield parameter was recorded in the treatment supplied with 5 mg kg-1 of Zn as zinc humate. This was at par with the treatment applied with 2.5 mg kg-1 of Zn as zinc humate. This study concluded the application of 2.5 mg kg-1 Zn as humate was established as the optimum dose of Zn to maximize the productivity of cotton in salt affected soil.

Diaa AE, Ashraf AA, Hashem MA. 2015. Evaluating Bivariate and Multivariate statistical analysis of yield and agronomic characters in Egyptian cotton. Scientia Agriculturae, 9 (3), 150-164. Retrieved from www.pscipub.com (DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.SA.2015.9.3.150164) Two field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 growing seasons at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Sixteen Egyptian cultivars were evaluated in a balanced lattice design (4 x 4) with five replications for nine traits. The aims were to determine relationships between yield and its components and examine the efficiency of such components in building yield capacity by using six different statistical methods. Highly significant differences were detected among genotypes for all studied traits. Highly significant and positive correlation estimates were detected between seed cotton yield and each of number of fruiting branches per plant, number of opening bolls, lint cotton yield per plant, seed cotton yield per plant, lint cotton yield per plot, seed yield per plot and lint percentage. On the other hand, number of dry bolls per plant showed negative association with seed cotton yield. In multiple linear regressions, the relative contribution for all yield components explained 96% of the total variation in seed cotton yield. The stepwise regression showed that, seed yield per plot, lint cotton yield per plot and number of dry bolls, were the most contributing variables in seed cotton yield per feddan (99% of seed cotton yield variation). Stepwise multiple linear regression proved to be more efficient than the full model regression to determine the predictive equation for seed cotton yield. The criteria used in identifying the best subsets were based on monotone functions of the residual sum of squares (RSS) such as R, adjusted R and Mallow’s Cp. Results revealed the best subset regression model, based on the three different criteria, were the predicted equation for seed cotton yield per fed (Y) was Y = -0.12 – 0.011 x2 – 0.011 x6 + 0.016 x7. The simplified results from best subset regression analysis indicate that the highest coefficient of determination (R=99.9%), adjusted R (99.8%) and lowest Mallows' conceptual predictive (Cp) value (2.0), and has three-independent variables. The factor analysis grouped the studied variables into two groups, which explained 83.4% of the total variability in the dependence structure. The first group contributed 58.9% while, the second group was responsible for 24.5% of the total variability. Cluster analysis reflected the tendency of each group of variables in one cluster to relate closely to each other. Analysis of six statistical procedures revealed that high yield of cotton can possibly be obtained by selecting breeding materials that have high seed yield per plot (x7) and high yield per plot (x6), but have low number of dry polls per plant (x2). © 2014 PSCI Publisher All rights reserved.

Trials were conducted during three years from 2021-22 to 2023-24 at Main Cotton Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Surat, Gujarat to study the effect of nitrogen levels on yield of cotton and to find out the efficacy of growth retardants on plant canopy of cotton grown under high density planting system. Nine treatment combinations comprising of three nitrogen levels viz; 375 kg N/ha, 300 kg N/ha and 225 kg N/ha with three treatments of growth retardants viz; Cycocel spray @ 50 g a.i./ha in each spray at 60 and 75 days after sowing, Mepiquat chloride spray @ 37.5 g a.i./ha in each spray at 60 and 75 days after sowing and Control (water spray at 60 and 75 days after sowing) were laid out in factorial randomized block design. Nitrogen levels significantly influenced on growth parameters viz; plant height, number of sympodial branches/plant, sympodial length and days to 50 % flowering, yield attributes viz; number of bolls/plant and boll weight, seed cotton yield (kg/ha), lint yield (kg/ha) and stalk yield (kg/ha). Important growth and yield parameters viz; plant height, number of sympodial branches/plant, sympodial length, days to 50 % flowering, number of bolls/plant and boll weight, seed cotton yield (kg/ha), lint yield (kg/ha) and stalk yield (kg/ha) were significantly influenced by growth retardant treatments. Conclusion of the experiment was drawn that application of 300 kg nitrogen/ha in five equal splits at 30, 60, 75, 90 and 105 days after sowing along with 40 kg P2O5/ha as basal dose and spraying of mepiquat chloride 5 % AS @ 37.5 g a.i./ha at 60 and 75 days after sowing found optimum for obtaining higher seed cotton yield as well as net returns from Bt cotton hybrid grown with high density planting system maintaining 60 x 45 cm spacing under irrigated condition of south Gujarat.

Seed cotton yield and fibre quality are controlled by polygenes and highly influenced by the environment. Hence, selection merely based on yield is not effective. In order to enhance the yield potential of the cotton varieties, an understanding of the relationship among different characters is of more importance. Knowledge on the direct contribution of different characters to yield would be highly important for formulating a selection programme. Correlation and path coefficient analysis were carried out using 62 progenies of an interspecific backcross population (Gossypium hirsutum L. var. KC 3 x Gossypium barbadense L. var. Suvin) x KC 3. Genotypic correlation studies revealed that number of bolls per plant, boll weight, number of sympodia per plant, number of seeds per boll, seed index, lint index, days to first flowering, and plant height have a significant positive association with seed cotton yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis showed that number of bolls per plant contributed maximum direct effect to seed cotton yield per plant followed by boll weight and lint index. The highest positive indirect effect on seed cotton yield per plant was also observed through number of bolls per plant. This indicated that seed cotton yield per plant was highly influenced by number of bolls per plant directly and indirectly. Thus, a greater emphasis should be given to number of bolls per plant, boll weight, and lint index for increasing seed cotton yield per plant.

Aims: To determine the optimum irrigation schedule and nitrogen level for Bt cotton in alfisols in Southern Telangana.
 Study Design: Split plot design.
 Place and Duration of Study: ARI, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif 2014.
 Methodology: The experiment was laid out with three irrigation schedules (I1- 0.8 IW/CPE, I2 - 0.4 IW/CPE and I3 - Rainfed) as main plots and four nitrogen levels (N1- 0 kg ha-1, N2 - 75 kg ha-1, N3 - 150 kg ha-1 and N4 - 225 kg ha-1) as sub plot treatments replicated thrice. Treatments imposed as per the schedule and data recorded on yield, yield attributes, nitrogen uptake by adopting standard procedures
 Results: Irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE recorded significantly higher plant height (79 cm), drymatter at first picking (195 g plant-1), bolls plant-1 (16), seed cotton yield (1435 kg ha-1), lint yield (541 kg ha-1), stalk yield (2057 kg ha-1) and nitrogen uptake (63 kg ha-1) and was not differed significantly with 0.4 IW/CPE and these were significantly superior to rainfed cotton. Among nitrogen levels, significantly higher plant height (90 cm), drymatter at first picking (214 g plant-1) stage, days to reach boll development (90) stage, bolls plant-1 (15), boll weight (5.3 g), seed index (9.9 g), seed cotton yield (1435 kg ha-1), lint yield (547 kg ha -1) and stalk yield (2214 kg ha -1) were found with application of nitrogen at 225 kg ha-1 was comparable with 150 kg N ha-1 and were significantly superior over lower levels of nitrogen application. The substantial increase in yield and yield attributes might be due to favorable effect on growth attributes like plant height, increased bolls plant-1, drymatter accumulation plant-1 and its subsequent translocation towards sink improved the seed cotton yield.
 Conclusion: It can be concluded that, higher seed cotton yield can be obtained with the irrigation scheduled at 0.4 IW/CPE and application of nitrogen at 150 kg ha-1 in Bt cotton grown in alfisols.