Abstract
Effect of sowing dates and cultivars was significant on almost all yield and yield components. First sowing (May
20) produced 10% more flowers, 23% more open bolls, 18% more seed cotton yield and 13% more ginning out
turn than second sowing (June 10). Maximum yield was produced by SLH-284 (1462.8 kg ha-1) followed by NIAB111 (1347.2 kg ha-1), CIM-496 (1183.1 kg ha-1) and CIM-506 (1177.1 kg ha-1). Number of sympodial branches
was significantly affected by different cultivars i.e. 17.9, 17.7, 20.9 and 23.8 in cultivars CIM-496, CIM-506, NIAB111 and SLH-284 respectively. 100-cotton seed weight was maximum in treatment SLH-284 (8.25 g) while CIM496, CIM-506 and NIAB-111 had 6.91 g, 6.60 g and 7.71 g respectively. Maximum ginning out turn was
calculated in SLH-284 (34.02 %) followed by NIAB-111 (33.23 %), CIM-496 (32.07 %) and CIM-506 (31.22 %)
respectively. Cotton should be sown up to May 20 to get good yield in Faisalabad region. In late sowing, yield and
other components of yield decrease considerably. Among the four varieties studied, the best yield and yield
components as well as radiations use efficiency of SLH-284 was the highest and this variety can perform best in
Faisalabad region than other three varieties studied.
