Irrigation Module and Sowing Date Affect Seed Cotton Yield, Quality, Productivity Indices, and Economics of Cotton in North-western India

ABSTRACT Delayed sowing and imprecise application of irrigation water to cotton has been the major hurdle in sustaining cotton yield in north-western India. Therefore, studies were initiated to ascertain the impact of heavy or normal level of presowing irrigation (PSI), scheduling time of first postsowing irrigation (POSI) under two sowing dates (SDs) on cotton arranged in a split block design replicated thrice. PSIh (100 mm) recorded 23.2% higher seed cotton yield over PSIn (70 mm) owing to better yield attributes and higher stand. First POSI at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) resulted the highest yield (3072 kg ha−1), while one at 6 WAS (POSI6) recorded least due to poor population and reduced yield attributes. Water productivity under POSI6 was lesser by 29.1%, 25.2%, and 16.2% as compared to POSI3, POSI4, and POSI5, respectively. April sown crop out yielded the May sown cotton crop by 939 kg ha−1 due to better yield attributes. Nitrogen factor productivity (NFP) among SD remained higher by 23.3% for April as compared to May sowing. PSIh exhibited better NFP over PSIn. POSI6 recorded least NFP by 24.4%, 28.5%, and 16.3% as compared to POSI3, POSI4, and POSI5, respectively and was indicative of relatively poor utilization of N under delayed schedules. Therefore, planting in April after heavy PSI and scheduling first POSI at 4 WAS is best strategy for sustaining cotton yield and maximizing farmer profitability.

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