RESPONSE OF SOWING TIME TO VARIOUS COTTON GENOTYPES

The sowing date trials comprised of four planting dates on three upland cottn cultivars were conducted to investigate appropriate sowing time of the cultivars at Tandojam, during 2008-09 and 2009-10. Results indicated that sowing dates and interactions effects amongst cultivars x sowing dates were differed significantly. On an average basis the cultivar Sohni exhibited maximum seedcotton yield (3096) kg ha^-1 followed by cultivar NIA-77 (2881) kg ha^-1 and Malmal (2878) kg ha^-1. The sowing date, May 10 exhibited significantly maximum effect on plant height, sympodial branches, bolls plant^-1, seed cotton yield, GOT %, seed index, oil content and low micronaire value followed by May 25 sowing date. Seed cotton yield and other characters were adversely affected by early (April 25) and late (June 10) sowing. Thus, the cultivation of cultivar Sohni, NIA-77 and Malmal on May 10 showed best response in yield of seed cotton. It was concluded that May 10 sowing is the most appropriate sowing time for these cultivars under agro- climatic condition of Tandojam, Pakistan.