Response of leaf area index, vegetative and reproductive phases of two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars at different regimes of irrigation scheduling

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different regimes of irrigation schedule on various vegetative and reproductive stages of cotton crop. The results showed that irrigation effect was non significant for number of plants m-2, while I4 treatment produced maximum number of monopodial branches 2.18, but statistically it was at par with I3, I5. I4 treatment showed maximum number of sympodial branches (20.43), followed by I3 (18.63). F.H-900 showed statistically higher sympodial branches (18.34) than the F.H-901 (17.08). Maximum number of flowers per plant was formed in the I4 treatment (101.00), followed by I3 (96.31) and 15 (92.23). Significantly higher number of flowers and boll drops was recorded in treatment I1, followed by I2. Flowers and boll drop per plant decrease with increase in irrigations applied to crop. Minimum number of flowers (60.45) and bolls (16.98) dropped per plant were in I4 and 13 (65.0 and 22.72, respectively).