Effect of weather on growth and yield of cotton grown in the dry farming tract of peninsular India

In the present study the effect of meteorological parameters on cotton growth at three different stations in the dry farming tract of peninsular India were studied critically. Increase in minimum temperature (above normal) particularly at vegetative and flowering stages favoured the yield of three varieties of cotton (AHH - 468, MCU - 9 and MCU - 10) under study. Decrease in maximum temperature at flowering and boll development stages was found to be conducive for the higher yield of AHH – 468 variety of cotton at Akola. In general, relative humidity was positively correlated with the yield of AHH – 468 varieties at Akola and MCU – 10 varieties at Kovilpatti. Lower values of bright sunshine hours (<5 hours) during vegetative and flowering were found to be helpful for increased yield of cotton at Akola. Rainfall at the beginning of the season favoured the yield of the crop.