Effect of Selective Defoliation on Yield and Growth of Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L) Variety 'H-4'
H. M. Mehta
Department of Agronomy, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand
Corresponding author
C. B. Shah
Department of Agronomy, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand
D. P. Patel
Department of Agronomy, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand
K. V. Jadav
Department of Agronomy, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand
H. V. Patel
Department of Agronomy, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand
R. R. Patel
Department of Agronomy, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand
Abstract
A field experiment on 'Hybrid-4 cotton crop was conducted for two crop sea-sons during the year 1973-74 and 1974-75 on sandy loam soils of Middle Gujarat. The crop was defoliated at the time of first flower appearance, first boll setting and first boll bursting stages with partial to complete defoliation. It was found that complete defoliation at any stage would reduce the yield to a great extent but partial defoliation of bottom branches at the later stages may compensate the seed cotton yield to a certain extent.