Effect of spacings and fertility levels on growth, yield and quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) hybrids under rainfed condition

The plants under closer spacing of 60 x 60 cm produced significantly more LAI, seed cotton yield, crop productivity and PFP_N over wider plant spacing (90 x 60 cm). However, wider spacing produced significantly higher dry matter, CGR and RGR over closer spacing. The significantly maximum LAI, seed cotton yield, crop profitability and crop productivity was recorded by ‘MLCH-318, which also produced significantly higher dry matter (46.95 and 88.54 g/plant), CGR (0.468 and 1.386 g/day/plant) and RGR (0.016 and 0.028 g/g/day/plant) at 120 and 150 DAE. Significantly higher dry matter, CGR and RGR at 120 and 150 DAE was produced due to the application of 62.50–31.25–31.25 kg N-P₂ O₅-K₂O/ha, over rest of NPK levels. However, significant increase in LAI, seed index, seed cotton yield, crop profitability and crop productivity under highest NPK level of fertility was observed. Lowest PFP_N (15.55 kg/kg N) was obtained with highest level of applied nitrogen. Closer spacing of hybrid ‘MLCH- 318′ recorded significantly higher moisture depletion and WUE, which was at par with ‘PKV Hy- 2′ in respect of consumptive use.