Comparative agronomic evaluation of different cotton varieties under desert climate

Different cotton varieties were evaluated on the basis of there agronomic performance at Bahawalpur, a desert region of Pakistan. Significant difference among varieties for plant height, number of leaves, number of opened bolls, boll weight and seed cotton yield was found. Boll weight was maximum for NIAB-111(3.31g), while CIM-496 had higher plant height, number of leaves, number of opened bolls and seed cotton yield as compared to other varieties. Similarly cotton varieties CIM-496, NIAB-111, BH-160 and CIM-534 were statistically better yielder giving 124.50g, 114.8g, 99.62g and 98.63g seed cotton yield per plant respectively as compared to CIM-507 (77.00g/plant) and CIM-506 (67.72g/plant) varieties. Therefore the better yielding varieties are recommended to be grown desert region.