Performance of Bt Cotton Hybrids to Plant Population and Soil Types Under Rainfed Condition

Rajeshwar Malavath

doi:10.4172/2168-9881.1000120

Abstract

Afield experiment was conducted both in black cotton and red chalka soils during kharif 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons in Adilabad District of Andhra Pradesh at six different locations through farmer’s participatory mode to find out the response of BG-II cotton hybrids under two different spacing’s in rainfed conditions. These experiments were carried out by the District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Center, Adilabad in collaboration with ATMA project functioning at Adilabad. Three cotton hybrids viz., Mallika BG-II (Boll Guard), Rasi BG-II and Paras Brahma BG–II which are most popular among the farmers were sown under two different spacing’s in different soils. The data revealed that, hybrids did not differ significantly in plant height, number of sympodial branches/plant, number of bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cottonyield in both the years of testing and also in both the soils. But, spacing’s had significantly influenced number of bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield. However, interaction effect was significant only for plant height. Closer spacing of 60 x 60 cm in red chalka soils (2033 and 2253 kg ha-1) and 90 x 60 cm in BC soils (2300 and 2450 kg ha-1) gave significantly higher seed cottonyield than wider spacing of 90 x 90 cm (1500 and 1863 kg ha-1) and 120 x 90 cm (1767 and 1983 kg ha-1) during both the years of investigation respectively. Thus it is concluded that Bt hybrids need to be planted with higher plant density to realize good yields.

Highlights

The black cotton soils of Adilabad district of Telangana are moderately deep to very deep, clayey and moderate to moderately well drained with slow permeability and low hydraulic conductivity
Majority of the farmers in the district do not follow the recommended spacing which is most important agronomic practice under rainfed conditions to get good crop yield. It is in this context that a systematic study was undertaken to assess the performance of three Bt cotton hybrids in both black cotton (BC) and red chalka soils with two different spacings
With regard to boll weight, pooled mean over two years indicated that Mallika BG II recorded significantly higher boll weight (5.37 g) compared to Raasi BG II in black cotton soils (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The black cotton soils of Adilabad district of Telangana are moderately deep to very deep, clayey and moderate to moderately well drained with slow permeability and low hydraulic conductivity. Cotton yields under rainfed ecosystem are low owing to erratic rainfall and the crop suffers from moisture stress during post monsoon season which coincides with flowering and boll development stages. Majority of the farmers in the district do not follow the recommended spacing which is most important agronomic practice under rainfed conditions to get good crop yield. It is in this context that a systematic study was undertaken to assess the performance of three Bt cotton hybrids in both black cotton (BC) and red chalka soils with two different spacings. Six locations appropriate to farming situation were chosen in the district

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Brahma BG II