Performance of Early and Late Planting Cotton Genotypes under Agro-Ecological Conditions of Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

| Cotton is an imperious cash crop of Pakistan and change in climatic conditions are continuously limiting its production across the globe. Sowing time is an important agronomic consideration which should be optimized to ensure better cotton yield and quality. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the potential of cotton genotypes under varied planting times at cotton research institute, Multan during 2018 and 2019. The experiment was comprised of four cotton genotypes IUB-13, MNH-1016, MNH-1020 and MNH-1026 and eight different sowing times viz 1st March, 16th March, 1st April, 16th April, 1st May, 16th May, 1st June and 16th June. The experiment was performed in RCBD with split plot arrangement and was repeated thrice. Sowing times were placed in main plot and cultivars were placed in sub plots. Results revealed that seed cotton yield and fiber strength was more when cotton was planted early between 1st March to 16th April compared to late planted cotton (1st May to 16th June). Highest seed cotton yield was obtained when cotton was sown on 1st April during first year (3946 kg ha-1) and 16th March during second year (3307 kg ha-1). Minimum seed cotton yield (852, 299 kg ha-1) during both years was obtained when cotton was sown on 16th June. Among cotton genotypes highest seed cotton yield was recorded in MNH-1020 during first year (3021 kg ha-1) and MNH-1016 during second year (2150 kg ha-1). However, minimum seed cotton yield, ginning out turn (38.9, 36.6%) and fiber length (27.6, 26.8 cm) were recorded in IUB-13 during both years. MNH-1020 had highest ginning out turn (41.1, 39.3%), fiber strength (35.88, 40.44 g/tex) and fiber length (28.7, 29.2 cm) during both years. MNH-1020 was also least effected with cotton leaf curl virus when planted on 1st March during first year (25.0%) and 16th march sowing during second year (3.0%). In conclusion, cotton cultivar MNH-1020 can sown from 1st March to 16th April in order to get better cotton yield and quality.