Biotech Updates

ICAR Reconfirms Higher Yield of Bt Cotton

March 23, 2007

A Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) study on cotton for 2005-06 recently released by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) reconfirms a net 33.7% increase in seed yield of Bt cotton hybrids over non-Bt hybrids and 73.8% increase over open-pollinated cotton varieties (OPV). Data in the study came from 1,200 demonstration and farmers plots in 11 cotton growing states in India.

In the demonstration plots, the Bt cotton hybrids proved to be highly productive with an average yield of 2,329 kg/ha of seed cotton compared to the non-Bt cotton hybrids (1,742 kg/ha) and varieties (1,340 kg/ha). Similarly, the average yield of Bt cotton hybrids was higher in farmers’ plots at 1,783 kg/ha compared to non-Bt cotton hybrids (1,362 kg/ha)  and OPV in farmers' field (1,072kg/ha).

Performance of Hybrids (Bt and non-Bt) and Varieties

Type

Bt cotton
hybrids

Non-Bt cotton
hybrids

Varieties (OPV)

% Increase
(Bt /non-Bt)

% Increase
(Bt/OPV)

Demo Yield
Seed cotton (Kg/ha)

2329

1742

1340

33.7

73.8

Farmer Field Yield
Seed cotton (Kg/ha)

1783

1362

1072

30.9

66.3

Source: ICAR 2005-2006

The FLD study of cotton was conducted by the Division of Agricultural Extension of the ICAR, in collaboration with various stakeholders under the Mini Mission-II of the Technology Mission on Cotton (TMC). 
 
A copy of the study "Front Line Demonstrations on Cotton 2005-06" is available on request from the Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR. For more details contact Bhagirath Choudhary of ISAAA South Asia Office at  b.choudhary@isaaa.org.