Optimal combination of canopy management and planting density for yield enhancement in late-sown cotton
Discuss this preprint
Start a discussion What are Sciety discussions?Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Background Cotton growers face low yield problems in late-sown cotton after wheat harvest. The present study aims to explore the optimal combination of different canopy management methods and planting densities for yield enhancement in late-sown cotton. A two-year (2022 and 2023) field experiment was carried out in the agronomic student research area at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan (31.43° N and 73.07° E). The field experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement comprising two factors: planting density (D 0 : 87489 plants hm − 2 , D 1 : 58326 plants hm − 2 ) and canopy management techniques (C 0 : control, C 1 : pruning, C 2 : chemical topping, C 3 : manual topping, C 4 : chemical topping + pruning and C 5 : manual topping + pruning). Results Chemical topping plus pruning was found to be the most effective at increasing the sympodial branch count, with an increase of 38%, compared with the control at planting density D 1, which also increased the number of bolls and the yield of seed cotton. On the other hand, manual topping plus pruning was found to outperform other methods in improving fiber traits. Conclusions When an optimal combination of chemical topping plus pruning is chosen, cotton yield can be increased in late snowy cotton, which can be a promising technique for sustainable cotton production in cotton‒wheat cropping systems.
