Assessment of Yield and Economics under High Density Planting System in Cotton in Kachchh District of Gujarat, India

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) possesses a position of major fiber and cash crop, which plays vital role to sustain national economy. It provides the basic raw material (cotton fiber) to cotton textile industry. Gujarat contributes substantially to the national cotton area (24%) and productions (37%). A field experiment was carried out during the kharif seasons from 2017-18 to 2019-20 at farmers' fields through ICAR-CAZRI Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kachchh-II to evaluate the impact of frontline demonstrations (FLDs) on cotton productivity and profitability. During the experiment period, a total of 30 FLDs on high density planting system (HDPS) in cotton with the high-yielding variety GTHH-49 were demonstrated in a 12-hectare area across 6 villages in the Bhuj, and Nakhatrana talukas of Kachchh district. The improved variety GTHH-49 with a full package of practices was demonstrated in the plots, while existing technology was treated as the local check. Based on three years of data, the improved practice (IP) resulted in an average seed yield of 2868 kg ha-1, which was an increase of 13.35% compared to the local check yield of 2530 kg ha-1. The demonstrated technology showed an average extension gap, technology gap, and technology index of 338.33 kg ha-1, 631.67 kg ha-1, and 18.05%, respectively. The economic analysis of the demonstrations revealed the viability of the improved technology, with a net return of 101670.3 Rs. ha-1 and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.24, compared to 84964.67 Rs. ha-1 and a BCR of 3.02 for local check. A wide range of extension and technology gaps had a detrimental influence on crop output and net returns in general. The results revealed that the adoption of the high-yielding variety with a full package of practices significantly increased cotton productivity and reduced both extension and technology gaps.