Performance of cotton genotype TCH 1819 to high density planting system under winter irrigated condition at the Western agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu

Plant population is an important attribute in crop management practice. Increasing the plant density by decreasing the crop row spacing was an alternative strategy to optimize crop profit. Hence, the field trial was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during the winter season of 2017 – 18 to study the effect of row spacing on the growth and yield of cotton genotype TCH 1819. The experimental design was Randomized Block Design (RBD) with seven spacing treatments viz., T1: 60 x 15 cm (1,11,111 plants ha-1), T2: 60 x 20 cm (83,333 plants ha-1), T3: 75 x 15 cm (88,888 plants ha-1), T4: 75 x 20 cm (66,666 plants ha-1), T5: 75 x 30 cm (44,444 plants ha-1), T6: 90 x 15 cm (74074 plants ha-1), T7: 90 x 20cm (55,555 plants ha-1) and was replicated thrice. Plant densities showed a significant (p=0.05) difference for all the characters studied. The higher plant density of 1,11,111 plants (60 x 15 cm) observed significantly (p=0.05) maximum plant height (103.14 cm), Leaf Area Index (LAI) (4.35), Dry Matter Production (DMP) (8125 kg/ha), Crop Growth Rate (CGR) (6.58 g/m2/day), root length (41.46 cm), root dry weight (14.94 g/plant), and chlorophyll index (48.24). The number of sympodial branches per plant (17) and bolls per plant (22 bolls) was found significant in the wider spacing of 75 x 30 cm. The narrow spacing of 60 x 15 cm noted the highest seed cotton yield (2565 kg/ha), net return (R65706.62), and B: C (2.32) ratio, followed by the spacing of 75 x 15 cm due to more plant density per unit area (m2). So, maximum yield in cotton can be achieved by decreasing the row spacing and increasing the plant population per unit area.