PRODUCTIVITY AND FIBER TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO EGYPTIAN COTTON VARIETIES UNDER SOLID AND INTERCROPPING CULTURES

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at Giza Agric. Exp. & Res. Sta., Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza governorate, Egypt, during 2011 and 2012 summer seasons to study the productivity and fiber quality of two Egyptian cotton varieties under solid and mixed cultures, as well as, farmer's benefit. Mixed intercropping pattern (120 cm ridge width) was used in this study for growing both crops, maize plants were growing in four plants per hill at 70 cm spacing of middle of ridge after one month of growing cotton, whereas, cotton plants were sown in both sides of the ridge by growing two plants per hill distanced at 20 cm apart, in addition to recommended solid plantings of both crops. Two Egyptian cotton varieties (Giza 80 and Giza 86), as well as, one maize variety (S.C. 30k08) were used. Three maize treatments were used under intercropping and solid plantings. A split split plot design in randomized complete block arrangement was used. The most important results could be summarized as follow: There are gradual and consistent increases in seed cotton yields per plant and per feddan under solid cotton plantings in comparisons with mixed pattern. Cotton variety Giza 80 had higher values of seed cotton yields per plant and per feddan in comparison with the other variety. Harvested maize plants for green fodder caused significant increment in seed cotton yields per plant and per feddan as compared with intercropped cotton plants with harvested maize plants for grains. Cotton cultivar Giza 86 had higher fiber parameters than the other under intercropping and solid cultures. Fiber properties were not affected significantly by cropping cultures. Recommended maize solid planting had the highest grain yields per plant and per feddan as compared with the other cropping systems. Grain yields per plant and per feddan were not affected by cotton varieties and maize treatments. Land equivalent ratio (LER) ranged from 1.45 to 1.98 with an average of 1.69. Net return of intercropping maize with cotton varied between maize treatments from 4079 to 7578 L.E. per feddan as compared with recommended solid planting of cotton (1798 L.E.)