Effect of different canopy management and mulching practices on yield parameters and fiber quality parameters of Bt cotton under drip fertigation

A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Station, Ekarjuna under Dr. PDKV Akola, during 2023-24, to find out the effect of different canopy management and mulching practices on yield contributing parameters and fiber quality parameters of Bt Cotton under drip fertigation. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Results indicated that Monopodia removal at 60 DAS and spraying of Mepiquat Chloride 5% w/w at 75 DAS was observed significantly superior for number of bolls plant-1 (37.33), average boll weight (5.28 g), seed cotton yield plant-1 (197.54 g), seed index (7.90), lint index (5.02), fibre fineness (3.78 microgram/inch), fibre length (31.66 mm) and fibre uniformity (86.84) over all other canopy management treatments. Polythene mulching practices significantly influenced the number of bolls plant-1 (37.33), average boll weight (4.88 g), seed cotton yield plant-1(182.90 g), seed index (7.72), lint index (4.76), fibre fineness (3.68 microgram/inch), fibre length (31.36 mm) and fibre uniformity (86.73) than all other mulching practices. Among the interactions of different canopy management and mulching practices, treatment combination of Monopodia removal at 60 days after sowing and spraying of Mepiquat Chloride 5% w/w at 75 days after sowing + Polythene mulching recorded significantly higher number of bolls plant-1 (40.67), average boll weight (5.64 g), seed cotton yield plant1 (229.24 g), seed index (8.06), lint index (5.21), fibre fineness (3.87 microgram/inch), fibre length (32.17 mm) and fibre uniformity (87.04) than all other treatment combinations. Hence polythene mulching accompanied with removal of monopodia at 60 days after sowing and spraying of Mepiquat Chloride 5% w/w at 75 days after sowing can be used for higher yield and quality fibre.