Know Your Farming – Cotton
Why is the cotton industry important in India?
Cotton is the finest fiber and cash crop of India, and it plays an important role in the growth of various industrial segments. India is the leading producer of cotton, and it ranks second for the quality of production. It is one of the major crops that accelerates the agricultural economy of the country. The cotton Industry in India is very vast, and it accounts 18% of the total global trade. It is produced in more than 10 states across India and among them Gujarat is the highest producing state.
10 major cotton growing states can be categorized into the three Zones:
| North Zone | Central Zone | South Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Madhya Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh |
| Haryana | Maharashtra | Telangana |
| Rajasthan | Gujarat | Karnataka |
| Karnataka |
Source: https://www.nfsm.gov.in/BriefNote/BN_Cotton.pdf
Advantages of farming cotton in India
• The most advantage of cotton is in the use of the textile and apparel industry, making cotton a global crop.
• The cotton grows well in alluvial, red sandy loam, clayey and black soil, as they have high levels of clay which reduces water logging and cleanse the crop well.
• The cotton is a Xerophytic plant which is grown at tropical and subtropical conditions.
Various constraints involved in cotton production
Cotton is an extremely versatile fiber that has many uses, and it has given birth to many industries. But cultivating this cash crop has its own challenges:
• Nearly 65% of the cotton area is rainfed, mainly in the southern and central parts of India.
• Cotton crop is prone to pests and diseases.
How can one overcome these challenges?
• On time sowing of cotton is very important. Ideally for rainfed cotton, the sowing should be done once 75 to 80 mm rains have been received.
• Use of proper variety, which should be resistant to disease and pest.
• Proper and timely intercultural operations to be carried out to keep the cotton field weed free.
• Application of optimum fertiliser dose at right time, along with supplementing the crop with foliar nutrients as and when required.
• Timely, control of pest and disease infestation by means of proper plant protection chemicals immediately when the pest has reached its threshold limit.
What kind of soil is required for farming cotton?
The suitable soil for growing cotton is alluvial, red sandy loam, clayey and black soil, among which black soil is best for cotton cultivation.
What kind of nutrient is required for cotton production?
Modern cotton farming uses chemical fertilizers which include one or more of these three elements – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These fertilizers can be natural or artificial substances containing the nutrients which improves the productivity of the crop. The nutrient management in cotton production is complex due to its active growth phase. For the efficient nutrient management of fertilizers and its profitable use we need to:
• Measure soil nutrient status – Applying the fertilizers in accordance with soil test recommendations can help to maximize the return on fertilizer. The optimum nutrition of the plant is possible only if we do soil analysis prior to planting of the crop.
• Know the crop variety or hybrid
The crop yield depends on the right supply of nutrients. Nutrients are chosen based on the following factors:
• Right choice of fertilizers
• Right method of application
• Right Time of application.
• Right dosage.
How does cotton pollination happen?
Cotton plants are self-fertile and self-pollinating. Theoretically the average self-pollinating cotton plant does not require a larger production growth system. Each cotton plant can be pollinated by placing one or two healthy beehives per hectare of cotton crop. The bees can travel miles away to collect the forage and its pollen.
What kind of necessary steps must be taken for cotton weed management?
The cotton plants are very sensitive to weed management, so it is necessary for all the farmers to have a sound weed management. The strategy may be different and may differ significantly between countries.
Weeds germinated in the initial stage of crop growth compete with the plant for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Crop can suffer from loss to the tune of 70 to 80 % if proper weed management is not done. In case of Cotton crop, the competition between weed and main crop persists almost up to 60 days from sowing, hence the cotton field should be kept weed free at least for 60 days from sowing. There are certain methods to control the weed management system. It includes cultural, physical, chemical, and biological methods.
A very important factor for effective weed control is the frequent tillage between the rows of the plant. To keep the field weed free and to maintain aeration in the field, it is suggested to have firsthand weeding after 3 weeks of sowing followed by hoeing, while secondhand weeding can be carried out after 6 weeks of sowing and subsequent hoeing should be done.
However, in recent times labor availability is a major concern, hence the weeding and hoeing operation becomes very costlier, to overcome this, herbicide can be used to effectively control the weeds in a cost-effective manner.
Pre emergence or post emergence weedicide can be used to control the weeds. In case of pre-emergence herbicide, Pendemethalin, Diuron, Oxyflourfen (to be applied immediately after sowing but before germination of cotton seeds) and Fluchloralin (to be applied before sowing on moist soil). While, in case of post emergent herbicide Pyrithioback sodium and Quizalofop Ethyl can be sprayed when the weeds are at 2 to 4 leaf stage (normally this stage comes after 21 to 28 days of sowing)
Care to be taken while spraying pre-emergence or post emergence herbicide that the soil should have sufficient moisture to get better weed control effect.
