EFFECT OF INTER- AND INTRA-ROW SPACING ON LINT YIELD, YIELD RELATED TRAITS AND FIBER QUALITY OF COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.) IN MIDDLE AWASH, ETHIOPIA

In cotton production of Middle Awash, information on the effect of inter- and intra- row spacing on lint yield, yield related traits and fiber quality of cotton are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of inter- and intra- row spacing on lint yield, yield related traits and fiber quality of cotton. The study was conducted at Werer Agricultural Research Center’s experimental site in 2019 main cropping season on chromic vertisol (clay to silty clay) with a pH ranging from 7.5 to 8.5. Treatments were factorial combination of four inter- row spacing (0.60, 0.75, 0.90 and 1.05 m) and four intra- row spacing (0.10, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40 m). The treatments were laid in Randomized Complete Bloch Design (RCBD) with three replications. Days to initial squaring was earlier at narrow inter- and intra- row spacing and delayed when inter- and intra- row spacing increased. The widest inter- row (1.05 m) and intra- row (0.40 m) spacing significantly delayed boll setting date as compared to other inter- and intra- rows. The highest plant height (156.6 cm) were recorded with narrowest inter- row (0.60 m) than the widest inter- rows (1.05 m) produced (146.7 cm) height. The tallest plant (154.6 cm) was also obtained with the narrowest (0.10 m) intra- rows as compared to the widest (0.30 and 0.40 m) intra- rows. The widest inter- and intra- row spacing produced significantly higher number of monopodial and sympodial branches than the narrowest inter-and intra- rows. The narrowest intra- row (0.10 m) resulted in a significantly large leaf area index at early flowering and cutout stage than other intra- rows regardless of inter- row spacing. On the other hand, leaf area index at cutout stage decreased as inter- row spacing increased from 0.60 to 0.90m. Above ground vegetative dry matter was significantly greater at widest inter- and intra- row spacing as compared to the narrowest spacing at early flowering and cutout stage. Large numbers of flowers (36.92 and 36.57) per plant were produced at widest intra- and inter- rows (0.40 and 1.05 m respectively) and higher percentage of young bolls retained than narrowest inter- and intra- rows. Significantly large number and weight of bolls were produced with widest inter- and intra- row spacing as compared to narrowest spacing. The intermediate inter- rows (0.75 and 0.90 m) spacing produced significantly higher seedcotton and lint yield than the respective wider (1.05 m) and narrow (0.60 m) inter- rows. Similarly intermediate intra- row (0.20m and 0.30 m) spacing resulted in significantly higher seedcotton and lint yield regardless of the respective wider and narrowest intra- rows. The observed quality parameters were not influenced due to spacing. But the values confirmed the acceptable standards. Therefore, it can be conclude that werer 50 cotton variety can be planted for better seedcotton and lint yield at 0.75 or 0.90 m inter- row spacing with 0.20 or 0.30 m intra- row spacing in Middle Awash area.