Effect of plant density and drip irrigation on pre-monsoon cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

A field experiment was conducted during the pre-monsoon season of 1989 and 1990 to study the effect of plant densities and drip irrigation on yield, quality and economics of pre-monsoon cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Plants @ 2/hill recorded significantly higher mean seed-cotton yield, lint, cotton-seed and oil yield/ha than I plant/hill at 1.5 m x 1.0 m spacing and the respective increase recorded was 31.99, 36.49, 34.23 and 35.33%. The fibre-maturity coefficient recorded by 2 plants/hill was significantly better than 4 plants/hill at 1.5 m x 2.0 m spacing system during both the seasons. The fibre-bundle strength and 2.5% span length were significantly better with I plant/hill than 2 plants/hill at 1.5 m x 1.5 m spacing system. Two plants/hill at 1.5 m x 1.0 m spacing recorded the maximum mean gross monetary return (Rs 17,332/ha) and net returns (Rs 8,893/ha).