Effect of transplanting and seedling age on growth, yield attributes and seed cotton yield of Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Abstract

An experiment conducted during kharif 2008 and 2009 laid out in RBD replicated thrice had 10 treatments in which 20 and 30 days old Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)seedlings raised in two different kinds of media, i e cocopeat or FYM: Soil (1:1 mixture) grown in polythene bags and plastic trays were transplanted in the field on April 24 and May 5, respectively. Direct sowing was also done on these dates to ascertain the comparison of growth and yield dynamics. Twenty days old seedlings resulted better yield and other attributes. FYM: Soil (1:1) was found superior than cocopeat for raising seedling. Yield and yield contributing characters of cotton grown from seedlings reared in polythene bags were higher than plastic trays owing to better dry matter and LAI indices. Among transplanting treatments, 20 days old polythene bag nursery grown in FYM: Soil (1:1 mixture) recorded highest yield (3 336.6 kg/ha) and was statistically comparable with direct sown crop on April 24 (3 521.2 kg/ha) and May 5 (3 390.6 kg/ha). Pooled data on net returns and B:C ratio also revealed the possibility of transplanting cotton to raise a profitable crop under compelling circumstances as a potentially exploitable technology.