Effects of hydro-priming and sowing date on seed cotton yield, lint and seed oil of two cotton cultivars

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of sowing date and hydro-priming on yield of two cotton cultivars using a factorial layout with randomized complete block design in three replications at the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch in 2013 growing season. The first factor was sowing date with three levels of 29 April, 13 May and 27 May. The second factor was hydro-priming in two levels of control (without priming) and hydro-priming application and the third factor was cultivar with two levels of Paak and Varamin cultivars. Results showed that seed hydro-priming at the first sowing date (29 April) significantly increased seed cotton yield compared with control (without priming), however hydro-priming had no effects on seed cotton at the second and the third sowing dates. Varamin cultivar responded well to early planting and its yield at the first sowing date was significantly higher than that of Paak cultivar, whereas there was no difference between two cultivars regarding seed cotton yield at the other sowing dates. Delay in sowing and non-priming treatment resulted in a significant decrease in oil content of Paak cultivar but had no significant effect on oil content of Varamin cultivar.