PLANTING DATES AFFECTS ON SEED COTTON YIELD AND CONTRIBUTED CHARACTERS OF COTTON ADVANCE LINES UNDER CHANGING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF TANDOJAM, SINDH PAKISTAN

Abstract

Cotton crop is an imperative role in Pakistan’s economy. It faces several environmental situations which check its growth and production. Climate changes bring a head new pressure for cotton cultivation in the Pakistan especially in Sindh province. The present study was carried out at Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam in 2021. Four advance lines NIA-88, M-32, NIA-Bt. 89 and NIA-Bt.90 along with two local check varieties IUB-2013 and CRIS-121 were evaluated under two planting dates viz. 1st April and 1st May having three replicates under randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements. The data depicted that crop sown on 1st April produced more seed cotton yield (2855.5 kg ha-1) than sown on 1st May with (1674.4 kg ha-1). Comparing the average varietal performance in both sowing dates, NIA-88 produced maximum seed cotton yield (2339.2 kg ha-1) while minimum seed cotton yield (2137.2 kg ha-1) was exhibited by check variety CRIS-121. Boll retention % was maximum (44%) in advance line NIA-88. The maximum number of bolls plant-1 (42.0), sympodial branches plant-1 (26.0), ginning out turn percentage (42.0), seed index (8.1g) and staple length (29.0mm) respectively was obtained in 1st April sowing date while minimum number of bolls plant-1, sympodial branches plant-1, ginning out turn percentage, seed index and staple length (33.0), (15.0), (36.3), (6.0g) and (27.0mm) took in 1st May sown crop. Associating the average varietal performance in both sowing dates NIA-88 produced maximum number of bolls plant-1(44.0), sympodial branches plant-1 (23.0), ginning out turn percentage (40.4), seed index (9.0g) and staple length (29.0mm) respectively. The results indicated that the planting dates and genotypes influenced on seed cotton yield and associated traits in current changing climate scenario for cotton crop.