Enhancement in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop yield by water use efficiency under various planting techniques

Six experiments were conducted for the enhancement in seed cotton yield by increasing water use efficiency and water savings in case of different planting methods of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop during the years 2014 & 2015, at three different locations in cotton zone of Punjab (Pakistan) province. The planting methods were, flat planting and no earthing up, flat planting and earthing up after 1st irrigation, flat planting and alternate row earthing after 1st irrigation, flat planting in 112.5/37.5 cm apart paired rows and earthing up after 1st irrigation, ridge planting and bed planting. Cotton crop obtained a maximum benefit from the available water at all three locations in case of flat planting with alternate row earthing up (P3) by predicting a maximum water use efficiency up to 6.79 kg ha-1 mm-1and maximum seed cotton yield of 3432.50 kg ha-1. Maximum water savings of 25.60% was recorded in the same method (P3) during the year 2014, while minimum (-0.17%) was observed in ridge planting (P5) at location number 1 in the same year.