Light interception, growth and yield performance of compact cotton genotypes under high density planting system in irrigated ecosystem

A field experiment was conducted on “Light interception, growth and yield performance of compact cotton genotypes under high density planting system in irrigated ecosystem”. Light interception was significantly higher with the genotype SCS-1206 and which was at par with the genotype Suraj at all the growth stages. Further, among the different compact cotton genotypes, G1: SCS-1206 recorded highest seed cotton yield (2886 kg ha-1), growth attributes viz., number of sympodial branches, total dry matter production, absolute growth rate, crop growth rate, leaf area duration and leaf area index and also yield attributes viz., number of bolls per plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield per plant. Whereas, significantly lower values on different growth and yield attributes were recorded with the genotype DSC-99. Among the different planting geometries, a closer row spacing of S1: 60 cm x 10 cm recorded significantly higher seed cotton yield (2896 kg ha-1) over a rest of the row spacing. Among the different combinations, the cotton grown under high density planting system recorded significantly higher light interception when compared to cotton grown under conventional system with Bt cotton hybrid ATM at a recommended spacing of 90 cm x 60 cm at all the growth stages. Genotype G1: SCS-1206 grown at S1: 60 cm x 10 cm spacing recorded significantly higher seed cotton yield (3096 kg ha-1) and it was found at par with the combination of same genotype G1: SCS-1206 with S2:75 cm x 10 cm spacing (2949 kg ha-1) and genotype G3: Suraj with S1: 60 cm x 10 cm spacing (2923 kg ha-1). Cotton grown under conventional system with Bt cotton hybrid ATM at a recommended spacing of 90 cm x 60 cm recorded significantly lower seed cotton yield (2314 kg ha-1) when compared with the all the treatment combinations of cotton grown under HDPS except with the combinations of genotype G2: DSC-99 at S2:75 cm x 10 cm spacing and same genotype G2: DSC-99 at S3: 90 cm x 10 cm spacing (2525 and 2263 kg ha-1, respectively).