Zero tillage technology revealed with no use of any soil inverting technique
to grow crops. The crop plant seed is planted in the soil directly after
irrigation to make the soil soft without any replenishing in soil layers. A
study was conducted to evaluate cotton genotypes FH-114 and FH-142 for the
consecutive three years of growing seasons from 2013-15. The seed of both
genotypes was sown with two date of sowing, 1 March and 1 May of each three
years of sowing under three tillage treatments (zero tillage, minimum tillage
and conventional tillage) in triplicate completely randomized split-split
plot design. It was found from results that significant differences were
recorded for tillage treatments, date of sowing, genotypes and their
interactions. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the yield and
it attributed traits for potential of FH-114 and FH-142 cotton genotypes. The
genotype FH-142 was found with higher and batter performance as compared to
FH-114 under zero tillage, minimum tillage and conventional tillage
techniques. The traits bolls per plant, boll weight, fibre fineness, fibre
strength, plant height, cotton yield per plant and sympodial branches per
plant were found as most contributing traits towards cotton yield and
production. It was also found that FH-142 gives higher output in terms of
economic gain under zero tillage with 54% increase as compared to
conventional tillage technique. It was suggested that zero tillage technology
should be adopted to improve cotton yield and quality. It was also
recommended that further study to evaluate zero tillage as potential
technology should be performed with different regions, climate and timing
throughout the world.
Combining ability analysis for seed cotton yield and quality traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)