Mulching effect on seed germination, seedling rot disease, cotton wilt, and seed cotton yield of Cotton (G. hirsutum L.)

Abstract

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of mulching against germination per cent, fungal diseases (seedling rot and wilt) of cotton, and seed cotton yield. The results regarding the effectiveness of different mulch on germination of cotton seeds, mortality of seedlings, wilt disease of cotton, and seed cotton yield showed significant difference at P < 0.01 and 0.05. In the case of maximum germination (34.6%) was observed in Rice Straw (Mulch) and minimum germination (23.9 %) was observed in control. Highest seedling rot incidence (6.5%) and wilt incidence (2%) was observed in control, and minimum seedling rot (4.0%) and wilt incidence (0.5%) was observed in treatment covered by Rice Straw (Mulch). The maximum seed cotton yield (3446 kg ha^-1) was recorded in treatment mulched by Rice Straw, while minimum seed cotton yield (1674 kg ha^-1) was recorded in control where no any mulch was used.