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.