Evaluation of planting patterns on the performance and quality of mechanical harvesting of cluster cotton cultivars

Although most cotton production costs are spent on manual harvesting of the product, moving toward the mechanization harvesting of production and development of cotton cultivation .In order to evaluate the effects of planting pattern and row spacing on quantity and quality of cotton harvesting, this experiment was carried out split- plot using RCBD with Four replications in Karkandeh Cotton Research Station Kordkooy, during 2014-2015. Main-plots were cluster varieties of cotton (T3, Kashmar and Sajedi) and sub-plots included four planting patterns (single row 20×0.96, twin row 10×0.96, 20×0.96, 30×0.96 cm). The composite analysis results showed that planting pattern of twin row was significant on yield, earliness percentage, performance of cotton harvesting machine and post harvest. Also Mean comparisons revealed that the 10 and 20 cm row spacing in the 96 cm row at center had the highest yield and earliness percentage and harvest efficiency in compared with other planting patterns. Also, the result of correlation coefficient of traits showed a significant relationship between machine yield and height of first sympodial from ground branch germination, number of bolls, post harvest losses and seed cotton yield. Finally, the plant density and row spacing should be changed in such a way that the cotton yield is not significantly affects.