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SUSTAINABLE COTTON
PRODUCTION AND WATER ECONOMY THROUGH DIFFERENT PLANTING METHODS AND
MULCHING TECHNIQUES
HAFIZ MUHAMMAD
NASRULLAH1*, MUHAMMAD BISMILLAH KHAN2, RIAZ AHMAD3,
SAGHIR AHMAD4, MAMOONA HANIF4 AND WAJAD NAZEER4
Abstract:
Planting methods and
mulching techniques are important factors which affect crop growth,
development and yield by conserving soil and plant moisture. A
multifactorial experiment was conducted to study the water economy
involving different planting methods and mulching techniques in cotton (Gossypium
hirsutum L.) for two consecutive years (2004 and 2005) at the
Agronomic Research Station, Khanewal. Two moisture stress tolerant
cotton varieties (CIM-473 and CIM-499) were planted using four different
planting methods i.e. 70cm spaced single row planting, 105 cm spaced
double row strip planting, 70cm spaced ridge planting and 140 cm spaced
furrow beds (or bed and furrows) along four mulching practices i.e.
cultural, straw, sheet and chemical for their individual and interactive
effects on various parameters including water use efficiency. Positive
interactive effects of furrow bed planting method (140 cm spaced) with
plastic sheet/film mulching were observed for all the parameters i.e.,
highest seed cotton yield (3009 and 3332 kg ha-1), maximum
water saving (up to 25.62% and 26.53%), highest water use efficiency up
to 5.04 and 4.79 [µmol (CO2)/mmol (H2O)], highest
net income (Rs. 27224.2 and 50927.7 ha-1) with a cost-benefit
ratio of 1.64 and 2.20 followed by maximum net income (Rs. 27382.2 and
47244.5 ha-1) with 1.64 and 2.10 cost-benefit ratio in case
of plastic mulch and 2814 and 3007 kg ha-1 in ridge planting
method during 2004 and 2005, respectively. It is concluded that cotton
crop can be grown using bed and furrow planting method with plastic
sheet/film mulching technique for sustainable cotton production and
better water economy.
1Agronomic Research Station, Bahawalpur, 2University College of
Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan.
3Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 4Cotton
Research Station, Multan, Pakistan.
*Corresponding author
e-mail: muhammadnasrullah22@yahoo.com
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