Season And Varieties

*  Hybrid
Particulars of Cotton Varieties/Hybrids

 Particulars of Cotton Varieties/Hybrids

Preparation of Field for Irrigated Cotton Crop

1. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD

2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST

Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost or 2.5 t of vermicompost per ha if available, uniformly on the unploughed soil.

3. APPLICATION OF BIOFERTILIZER

Seed treatment with 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos(1200 g/ha).  In addition apply 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) mixed with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg of soil on the seed line. This saves 25% nitrogen besides increasing yield.

4. FORMATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS

       

Form ridges and furrows 10 m long with appropriate spacing

Varieties/Hybrids                                                         Spacing between ridges (cm)
MCU 5, SVPR 2, LRA 5166, MCU 12, MCU 13                                               75
TCHB 213                                                                                                  120
Suvin                                                                                                           90
MCU 7                                                                                                         60
NOTE: Adopt higher spacing rows in fertile soils by 15 to 30 cm.

Cotton cultivation in ridges and furrows

5. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation for the different varieties.

v)   Foliar application of 2% DAP + 1% KCl will improve kapas yield.
vi) Apply the fertilizers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge, and incorporate. 

6. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE

Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg for one ha.

7. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS’ CORRECTION

II. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS

I.  SEED RATE

                Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids

2. SPACING

In a pure crop of cotton, adopt the spacing as below for the different varieties.

                                * Fertile soils

                Plant two rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton

      For higher returns, advance sowing of either greengram or soyabean 20 days before sowing of cotton in winter season. 

Cotton intercropped with soybean
Source: www.cicr.nic.in

Cotton + Blackgram intercropping

Cotton + greengram intercropping

3. ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS

NOTE: Acid delinting has the following advantages:

4A. PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

i)      Treat the delinted seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed or with Carbendazim (or) Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed.
      Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with biofertilizers.
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
ii)     Treat the delinted fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600 g) of Azospirillum and 3 packets of phosphobacteria 600g (or) 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g) and sow immediately.

4B. SEED HARDENING

      Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%) for 8 hours and dry back to original moisture to increase germination and vigour. Dry the seeds in shade.

      Seed pelleting: Seeds coated with arappu leaf powder (100 g/kg) along with DAP (40 g/kg), micronutrient mixture (15 g/kg) and Azospirillum (200 g/kg) phosphobacteria (200 g/ha) or Azophos (400 g/ha) using 5% maida solution or gruel as adhesive
(300 ml/kg) to increase the germination and vigour.

5. SOWING

i)      Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3-5 cm on the side of the ridge 2/3 height from the top and above the band where fertilisers and insecticides are applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil.
ii)     In the case of intercropping, sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of cotton in a row of 5 cm apart and cover the seeds.
iii)    Sow the required number of seeds in each hole.

Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3-5 cm

Seedling emergence under flood irrigation system
Source: www.cicr.nic.in
6. WEED MANAGEMENT

One hand weeding on 45 DAS will keep weed free environment upto 60 DAS

7. GAP FILLING

a. Take up gap filling on the 10th day of sowing.
i)       In the case of TCHB 213, raise seedlings in polythene bags of size 15  x 10 cm.
ii)      Fill the polythene bags with a mixture of FYM and soil in the ratio of 1:3.
iii)     Dibble one seed per bag on the same day when sowing is taken up in the field.
iv)     Pot water and maintain.
v)      On the 10th day of sowing, plant seedlings maintained in the polythene bags, one in each of the gaps in the field by cutting open the polythene bag and planting the seedling along with the soil intact and then pot water.
b. In the case of all other varieties, dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap and pot water.

8. THINNING

      Thin out the seedlings on the 15th day of sowing. In the case of fertile soils, allow only one seedling per hole, whereas in poor soil allow two seedlings per hole.

 9. TOP DRESSING

10. RECTIFICATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS

Reform the ridges and furrows after first top dressing in such a way that the plants are on the top of the ridges and well supported by soil.

11. SPRAYING OF NAPTHALENE ACETIC ACID (NAA)

Spray 40 ppm NAA at 60 and 90 days after sowing on the crop to prevent early shedding of buds and squares and to increase the yield.
NOTE: 40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water will give 40 ppm.                                    

12.  MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DELAYED UMMER IRRIGATED COTTON SOWING

KCI 1% spray, twice on 50 and 70 DAS for delayed sowing (first fortnight of March) of summer irrigated cotton in rice-cotton cropping system for Srivilliputhur region.

13. ARRESTING TERMINAL GROWTH

Nip the terminal portion of the main stem as indicated below:

For varieties having less than 160 days duration  nip the terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15th node (75 to 80 DAS) and for varieties and hybrids having more than 160 days duration  beyond the 20th node (85 - 90 DAS).

III. WATER MANAGEMENT

                Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop.

** For  TCHB 213 and Suvin only.

      The features of the methods are furnished below:

Skip furrow irrigation

Alternate furrow irrigation 

Cotton cultivation under flood irrigation

                      Cotton cultivation under drip irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation in cotton

IV. HARVESTING

Harvest indices: Well burst boll ready for harvest

NOTE: Do not mix stained, discoloured and insect damaged kapas with good kapas, as they will spoil the good kapas also and lower the market value of the produce.

RAINFED COTTON

Follow water harvesting techniques and raise a successful crop of cotton.

Season and Varieties

For Thirumangalam in Madurai district, Sattur in Virudhunagar district and parts of Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, where the seasonal rainfall is 375 mm and most of it is received during September or first week of October, select LRA 5166 (or) SVPR 2 (or) KC 2.

In places where rains are received during October or November, Select K 11 for Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.

PREPARATION OF LAND FOR RAINFED COTTON

1. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD

2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST

i)    Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost or composted coir pith or 2.5t of vermicompost per ha uniformly on the unploughed soil.
ii)   Incorporate the manure in the soil by working the multipurpose implement or country plough.

3. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

i) Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible.
ii) If soil tests are not done, follow the blanket recommendations for the different varieties.

4. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE

5. SEEDS AND SOWING

                i) Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids.

Note: Delint only LRA 5166 and SVPR2 seeds. Do not delint seeds of K 9, K10 & K 11
        ii)     In the case of mixed crop of cotton, maintaining the same seed rates as for a pure crop and adopt the following seed rate for the pulses crop.
Blackgram/greengram                                                    10 kg/ha
Cowpea                                                                       7.5 kg/ha

6. SPACING

i)      In the case of pure crop of varieties/hybrids, a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants may be adopted.
ii)     In the case of cotton, intercropped with pulses, one paired row of cotton is alternated with two rows of pulses and the total population of cotton crop is maintained at the same line as that for a pure crop of cotton.

iii)    Adopt a spacing of 30 x 10 cm for the pulse crop in between each paired row of cotton. APK 1 Blackgram is best suited for this situation.

7. ACID DELINTING

Adopt procedure for acid delinting as for an irrigated crop.

8. PRETREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

Same as for the irrigated crop.

9. SOWING

i)      Use the multipurpose farming implement to sow the seeds and to apply basal fertilizers simultaneously.
ii)     Fill the hopper in the implement with the fertilizer mixtures and work the implement.
iii)    Engage 3 persons for dropping the seeds, 2 for cotton and one for pulses.
In one operation, placement of fertilizer, sowing of seeds and covering will be completed.
NOTE: Cotton and pulses can be sown at a depth of 5 cm in black cotton soil even before the onset of monsoon rains in dry bed sowing. When light rains are received, the moisture will not penetrate deeper and the seeds will not germinate and die away. Only when good rains are received, the moisture level will be sufficient to penetrate to the level of the seed and facilitate germination and proper establishment.

10. WEED MANAGEMENT

i)       Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha followed by one hand weeding on 40 days after crop emergence. At the time of herbicide application sufficient soil moisture must be there.
ii)      If sufficient soil moisture is not available for applying herbicides hand weeding may be given at 10 - 20 days after crop emergence.

11. GAP FILLING

Dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap if sufficient moisture is available.

12. THINNING SEEDLINGS

 13. FOLIAR FERTILIZATION

Spray 0.5% urea and 1% KCl on the 45th and 65th day of sowing if sufficient moisture is available.

14. INTERCULTIVATION WITH DHANTHULU/BLADE HARROW

      Work dhanthulu or blade harrow on the 30th and 45th day of sowing.

RICE FALLOW COTTON

MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS

1. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD

i)       If the soil is in waxy condition, instead of Zero tillage, the seed rows may be tilled and the seed dibbled in Virudhunagar district.
ii)      If the soil is dry and not in condition to take up sowing, let in water and then allow the soil to dry till soil comes to waxy condition.
iii)     At the lower level of the field dig a trench 15 cm wide and connect this trench to the outside channel to drain off the excess water.

2. PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

i)       Same as for the irrigated crop.
ii)      Treat the acid delinted and fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600g) of Azospirillum and sow immediately.

3. SOWING THE SEEDS

                                                * In fertile soils

4. FILLING UP GAPS

 5. THINNING SEEDLINGS

i) Thin out seedlings on the 20th day of sowing
ii) Leave only one healthy and vigorous seedling per hill.

6. WEED MANAGEMENT

i)    Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha ensures weed free condition for 40 - 45 days. This should be followed by one hand weeding and earthing up during 40 - 45 days.
ii)  Take up hoeing and weeding 20 days after sowing.
iii) Take up this operation when the top soil dries up and comes to proper condition.

7. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

8. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS

                Apply basally12.5 kg/ha micronutrient mixture prepared by Department of Agriculture.  Apply MgSo4 basally @ 20 kg/ha to prevent reddening.

9. FORMATION OF RIDGES

Old delta

 New delta

Note: In case of zinc deficient soils, apply 50 kg ZnSo4 /ha 

10. APPLYING OF NAA

      Spray 40 ppm of NAA (40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water) at 40/45th day using high volume spray. Repeat the same dose after 15 days of first spraying.

11. TOPPING

      Arrest terminal growth by nipping the terminal 15th  node for controlling excessive vegetative growth. (70-75 DAS)

12. WATER MANAGEMENT

      Regulate irrigation according to the growth phases of the crops.

Stop irrigation from the 113th day onwards.
Note:    1)  The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rains.
              2)  Observe the crop and if the plants show wilting symptoms in the afternoon and in the evening hours, give an additional irrigation.
13.  Harvesting                                     |
14.  Post harvest operation                  | As that of the irrigated cotton.
15.  Pest and disease management     |
Source:
www.cicr.nic.in
www.geocities.com/civilwarstudy101/cotton