Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of calcium carbide (ethylene) on growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), in wire house Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in 2001-2002. BH-36 cotton variety was sown and calcium carbide (CaC2 ) was applied to the soil as ethylene producing compound. Normal soil, @ 12 kg pot-1, was used and recommended dose (120-100-60 kg ha-1) of N, P and K was applied. However, half dose of N and full dose of P and K was applied at sowing while remaining half dose of N was applied after two weeks of germination. Calcium carbide was applied @ 60 kg ha-1 at two growth stages, i.e., before flowering and after flowering which correspond to 18 to 60 days after sowing. A factorial, completely randomized design, was followed with nine treatments and three repeats. Data regarding plant height cm, number of branches plant-1 ,shoot fresh weight g plant-1, shoot oven dry weight g plant-1, root weight g plant-1 , number of bolls plant-1 was recorded and statistical procedures were followed to analyze the data. All the growth parameters were influenced significantly. Best time of application of calcium carbide was after two weeks of germination. However, in certain parameters i.e. plant height ,number of branches, shoot fresh weight, root weight and no. of bolls were statistically at par in the treatment where CaC2 was applied after 8 weeks of germination.