EFFECT OF SOWING METHODS AND DIFFERENT IRRIGATION REGIMES ON COTTON GROWTH AND YIELD

A field experiment was conducted for comparative examination of three sowing methods i.e., bed sowing, ridge sowing and flat sowing and two irrigation levels 75% and 50% field capacity during summer 2010 and 2011. Object of the study was to find out the best planting method having higher water use efficiency (WUE) and water productivity (WP). Randomized Complete Block Design (Split Plot arrangement) was employed with three replicates. Total dry matter accumulation (TDM), cotton yield and economic analysis were recorded. Higher WUE and WP was noted in bed sowing. Furthermore, at 75% FC yield was higher than 50% FC level, which was mild stress to the crop. Bed sowing at 75% FC exhibited higher TDM than other sowing methods. The highest BCR (1.28) was observed in 75% FC level in bed sown cotton which was followed by ridge planted cotton giving 1.21 BCR. Minimum benefit cost ratio of 1.10 was observed in flat sown cotton at 75% FC level, while at 50% FC the highest BCR (1.00) was obtained in bed sown cotton. Conclusively, bed sowing proved to be more beneficial for higher water use efficiency as compared to ridge and flat sowing of cotton