Yield maximization of Bt. cotton by integrated crop management techniques

A field experiment entitled, “Yield maximization of Bt. cotton by integrated crop management techniques” was caried out during kharif, 2023 at Cotton Improvement Project, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra (India). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and nine treatments. The results of present investigation revealed that, yield and yield contributing characters of Bt. cotton were significantly influenced by different treatments. Treatment T₁ i.e., wider spacing (90 cm × 90 cm) recorded significantly maximum lint weight boll^-1 (1.36 g), seed weight boll^-1 (2.64 g), boll weight (4.00 g), number of green (unopened) bolls plant^-1 (2.60), number of picked bolls plant^-1 (45.09) and seed cotton yield plant^-1 (180.36 g). The highest seed cotton yield (4162 kg ha^-1) and stalk yield (6202 kg ha^-1) were recorded with treatment T₉ (Cotton in closer spacing + Detopping at 100 cm height + Pruning of monopodia at 45 DAS + Two sprays of Mepiquat chloride @ 25 g a.i. at 45 and 60 DAS). The quality parameters viz., ginning percentage (%), lint index (%), micronaire value (µg inch^-1), tensile strength (g tex^-1), 2.5% span length (mm) and uniformity ratio (%) were not influenced significantly due to different treatments. Treatment T₉ (Cotton in closer spacing + Detopping at 100 cm height + Pruning of monopodia at 45 DAS + Two sprays of Mepiquat chloride @ 25 g a.i. at 45 and 60 DAS) recorded highest cost of cultivation (₹ 1,27,328), gross monetary returns (₹ 2,81,780), net monetary returns (₹ 1,54,452) and B:C ratio (2.21) than rest of all treatments.