PERFORMANCE OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUM SPECIES) GENOTYPES UNDER DIFFERENT SALINITY AND WATER-TABLE CONDITIONS

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of cotton (G ossypium spp) genotypes to different water-table depths and salinity d uring rainy season of 1993-94, 'Sarvottam' followed by 'Dhy 286', 'Lax mi' and 'G Cot DH 9' performed better when soil salinity remained with in 8 dS/m. Beyond this level, 'Dhy 286' and 'Laxmi' performed better t han 'Sarvottam'. 'Sarvottam' was found the most ideal for shallow wate r-table conditions of up to 60 cm, followed by 'AKH 4' and 'G Cot DH 9 '. A threshold soil salinity and water-table depth of 5-6 dS/m and 90- 95 cm respectively were found ideal for growing cotton in Vertisols of medium depth, with 'Sarvottam' as the most ideal genotype for shallow water-table conditions.