Growth Dynamics of Deshi Cotton in Skip Row Intercropping Systems
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2018-19 at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Dhule with the objective of studying the growth parameters of deshi cotton in skip row planting with intercrops. Results showed that plant height of cotton was influenced due to different intercrops at all the growth stages, except at 30 DAS. Skip row planting of cotton + sesamum (2:1) recorded significantly the maximum plant height (150.20 cm) and was on par with remaining intercrops of green gram, black gram, soybean and sesamum except pearl millet. However, pearl millet reduced plant height of cotton (106.73 cm) drastically and shown its dominance. Leaf area per plant of cotton at flowering stage (60 DAS), sole cotton recorded the highest leaf area than with green gram and pearl millet as an intercrop. However, at fruiting stage (90 DAS), there was no difference in leaf area among both the sole cotton and with intercrop, except with pearl millet. In later stage (120 DAS), similar results were noticed with reduced leaf area with soybean as intercrop as compared to other intercrops and sole cotton. At the time of harvest, sesamum was the superior intercrop for sustaining cotton leaf area (322.07). However, both sole cotton and cotton intercropped with green gram and black gram were equally effective in maintaining the leaf area of cotton. Number of sympodial branches per plant was highest (20.40) under skip row planting of cotton + intercropping of black gram (2:1) and lowest (13.33) under skip row planting of cotton + intercropping of pearl millet (2:1). Flower initiation was earlier under sole skip row planting of cotton and 2-3 days late with the growing of intercrops in skip row planting.
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Introduction
Cotton is a crucial fiber and cash crop in India, significantly influencing the nation'sindustrial and agricultural economy. It supplies the essential raw material, cotton fiber, to the cotton textile industry. In India, cotton directly supports the livelihoods of 6 million farmers and employs approximately 40-50 million people in its trade and processing. Cotton is known as the "King of Fibers" and is also referred to as "White Gold." Deshi cotton species produce high yields and need minimal chemical inputs, like fertilizers and pesticides, to achieve yields comparable to or better than American cotton.
Intercropping is a traditional and widespread practice in India and many other developing countries where farm sizes are generally small. Such cropping system is more relevant in rainfed farming as there is risk of crop failure either due to changes in seasonal climate or rainfall patterns. If two or more crops are simultaneously grown in same field, at least one may give something if the other fails. Consequently, intercropping offers a form of insurance against complete crop failure. In cotton along duration widely spaced crop, the vacant interspaces between the rows during initial growth period can be utilized in better way by growing suitable short duration intercrops. It shows slow initial growth stage and takes 60-75 days to cover the interspaces by its canopy. This period offers excellent opportunity to exploit the conditions for raising an intercrop. Widely planted long duration crop like cotton along with its slow growth habit during initial stage allows enough time and space for growing short duration intercrops which can lead to increased production by proper utilization of resources and inputs. The main compulsion of intercropping is to make best and efficient use of natural resources forgetting maximum return per unit area and time. In this system larger total yields are generally obtained than any of the pure crops. Productivity of the intercropping system can be substantially enhanced by proper selection of crops and their suitable varieties which may differ in duration, morphology and growth pattern from the principal crop so that peak requirements for moisture, nutrients, solar radiation etc. are met with steadily throughout the growing season.
Conclusion
From the study, it can be concluded that plant height of cotton was influenced due to different intercrops at all the growth stages, except at 30 DAS. Intercrops viz., green gram, black gram, soybean and sesamum did not show any influence on plant height of cotton. However, pearl millet reduced plant height of cotton drastically and shown its dominance. Similar trend was observed in respect of leaf area per plant of cotton as regards to pearl millet as intercrop at all the growth stages, except at 30 DAS. Number of sympodial branches per plant was higher under skip row planting of cotton with black gam. There was no significance difference with the dry matter per plant, days to initiation of squares and first boll opening.