INFLUENCE OF PICKING INTERVALS ON SEED-COTTON YIELD AND FIBER QUALITY OF LOCAL COTTON VARIETIES

Abstract

 This study was conducted at the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam, to determine the influence of cotton picking intervals on yield and fiber quality traits of three cotton varieties viz. Sadori, Chandi-95 and Malmal. The experiment was followed in a Randomized Complete Block Design (factorial) with three replications. Picking intervals were based on boll opening percentage i.e. 1^st picking was done at 30% boll opening stage, 2^nd at 50, 3^rd at 70 and 4^th picking was done at 90% boll opening. Compared to other two varieties, the variety Sadori included in the study exhibited higher values for most of the recorded traits (boll weight, seed-cotton yield, ginning outturn, seed index, staple length and micronaire). Compared to other picking intervals, it was observed that picking at 50% boll opening is most suitable stage for cotton crop; particularly it is beneficial for boll weight, seed index, staple length, micronaire value, seed-cotton yield and maintaining fiber quality.