Cotton — Package of Practices
A long-season fibre crop for deep, well-drained land — manage sucking pests early and bollworms later, and pick clean white cotton over several rounds.
Overview
Cotton is the major warm-season fibre crop, grown for the lint around its seeds. It needs a long, warm, frost-free season and deep, well-drained soil.
The crop's economics hinge on protection: control sucking pests in the early phase, then the bollworm complex (especially pink bollworm) at flowering and boll set, while keeping whitefly-spread leaf curl in check.
Climate & season
Cotton likes warm, sunny weather (about 21–35 °C) over a long season.
- A kharif crop needing a long frost-free period.
- Warm days and bright sun favour boll development.
- Sensitive to waterlogging.
Soil & land preparation
Best on deep, well-drained black or medium soils (also good alluvium) at pH 6.0–8.0.
- Plough deep to a fine, level tilth.
- Mix in 10–12 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Ensure free drainage; cotton dislikes wet feet.
Choosing a type & seed
Hybrids (including Bt hybrids carrying bollworm resistance) are widely grown; choose a duration to suit your season. High-density planting is an option on lighter soils. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Hybrids (delinted): 1.5–2.5 kg/ha.
- Spacing varies with type and system.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep into warm, moist soil.
Seed treatment & refuge
- Use treated, certified seed.
- Where Bt hybrids are grown, sow the recommended refuge to slow resistance.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow into warm, moist, well-drained soil at the season's onset.
- Keep rows about 90–120 cm apart (closer for high-density systems).
- Space plants 45–60 cm within the row.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep; thin to one healthy plant per hill.
- Open drainage channels on heavy land.
Nutrient management
Cotton is a heavy feeder. Split the nitrogen across the long season; phosphorus and potash support roots and bolls.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 10–12 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 100–150 kg/ha | Basal · squaring · flowering |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 50–60 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 50 kg/ha | Basal; supports boll fill |
Water management
Match water to the crop's stages and never waterlog it.
- Most critical at squaring, flowering and boll development.
- Avoid moisture stress at flowering; avoid waterlogging always.
- Drip irrigation, where available, gives precise, efficient watering.
Weed management
- The first 60 days are the critical weed-free period.
- Use a recommended pre-emergence herbicide with intercultivation.
- Earth up while weeding for support and drainage.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucking pests (jassids, aphids, thrips, whitefly) | Pest | Curling, yellowing, sticky leaves early in the crop | Seed treatment, yellow traps, neem, recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Pink bollworm | Pest | Rosetted flowers; bored bolls with stained lint | Pheromone traps, refuge, timely recommended insecticide; destroy stubble |
| American & spotted bollworm | Pest | Holes in squares and bolls | Pheromone traps, Bt where used, threshold-based sprays |
| Bacterial blight | Disease | Angular water-soaked leaf spots | Clean treated seed, resistant types, rotation |
| Wilt / root rot | Disease | Wilting, browning of vascular tissue | Tolerant types, rotation, good drainage |
| Cotton leaf curl virus | Disease | Curled, thickened leaves with vein swelling | Control whitefly early, tolerant types, rogue affected plants |
- Sow treated seed and the recommended refuge; rotate fields.
- Control sucking pests early; protect squares and bolls later.
- Use pheromone traps for bollworms and scout weekly.
- Spray only at the economic threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Pick when the bolls burst and the cotton is fully fluffed and dry, in several rounds, generally from 150–180 days.
- Pick clean, dry cotton; keep it free of trash and stained locks.
- Seed-cotton yields of about 1.5–3 t/ha are achievable under irrigation.
Related crops
Cotton — Package of Practices
A long-season fibre crop for deep, well-drained land — manage sucking pests early and bollworms later, and pick clean white cotton over several rounds.
Overview
Cotton is the major warm-season fibre crop, grown for the lint around its seeds. It needs a long, warm, frost-free season and deep, well-drained soil.
The crop's economics hinge on protection: control sucking pests in the early phase, then the bollworm complex (especially pink bollworm) at flowering and boll set, while keeping whitefly-spread leaf curl in check.
Climate & season
Cotton likes warm, sunny weather (about 21–35 °C) over a long season.
- A kharif crop needing a long frost-free period.
- Warm days and bright sun favour boll development.
- Sensitive to waterlogging.
Soil & land preparation
Best on deep, well-drained black or medium soils (also good alluvium) at pH 6.0–8.0.
- Plough deep to a fine, level tilth.
- Mix in 10–12 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Ensure free drainage; cotton dislikes wet feet.
Choosing a type & seed
Hybrids (including Bt hybrids carrying bollworm resistance) are widely grown; choose a duration to suit your season. High-density planting is an option on lighter soils. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Hybrids (delinted): 1.5–2.5 kg/ha.
- Spacing varies with type and system.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep into warm, moist soil.
Seed treatment & refuge
- Use treated, certified seed.
- Where Bt hybrids are grown, sow the recommended refuge to slow resistance.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow into warm, moist, well-drained soil at the season's onset.
- Keep rows about 90–120 cm apart (closer for high-density systems).
- Space plants 45–60 cm within the row.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep; thin to one healthy plant per hill.
- Open drainage channels on heavy land.
Nutrient management
Cotton is a heavy feeder. Split the nitrogen across the long season; phosphorus and potash support roots and bolls.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 10–12 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 100–150 kg/ha | Basal · squaring · flowering |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 50–60 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 50 kg/ha | Basal; supports boll fill |
Water management
Match water to the crop's stages and never waterlog it.
- Most critical at squaring, flowering and boll development.
- Avoid moisture stress at flowering; avoid waterlogging always.
- Drip irrigation, where available, gives precise, efficient watering.
Weed management
- The first 60 days are the critical weed-free period.
- Use a recommended pre-emergence herbicide with intercultivation.
- Earth up while weeding for support and drainage.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucking pests (jassids, aphids, thrips, whitefly) | Pest | Curling, yellowing, sticky leaves early in the crop | Seed treatment, yellow traps, neem, recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Pink bollworm | Pest | Rosetted flowers; bored bolls with stained lint | Pheromone traps, refuge, timely recommended insecticide; destroy stubble |
| American & spotted bollworm | Pest | Holes in squares and bolls | Pheromone traps, Bt where used, threshold-based sprays |
| Bacterial blight | Disease | Angular water-soaked leaf spots | Clean treated seed, resistant types, rotation |
| Wilt / root rot | Disease | Wilting, browning of vascular tissue | Tolerant types, rotation, good drainage |
| Cotton leaf curl virus | Disease | Curled, thickened leaves with vein swelling | Control whitefly early, tolerant types, rogue affected plants |
- Sow treated seed and the recommended refuge; rotate fields.
- Control sucking pests early; protect squares and bolls later.
- Use pheromone traps for bollworms and scout weekly.
- Spray only at the economic threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Pick when the bolls burst and the cotton is fully fluffed and dry, in several rounds, generally from 150–180 days.
- Pick clean, dry cotton; keep it free of trash and stained locks.
- Seed-cotton yields of about 1.5–3 t/ha are achievable under irrigation.
Related crops
Cotton — Package of Practices
A long-season fibre crop for deep, well-drained land — manage sucking pests early and bollworms later, and pick clean white cotton over several rounds.
Overview
Cotton is the major warm-season fibre crop, grown for the lint around its seeds. It needs a long, warm, frost-free season and deep, well-drained soil.
The crop's economics hinge on protection: control sucking pests in the early phase, then the bollworm complex (especially pink bollworm) at flowering and boll set, while keeping whitefly-spread leaf curl in check.
Climate & season
Cotton likes warm, sunny weather (about 21–35 °C) over a long season.
- A kharif crop needing a long frost-free period.
- Warm days and bright sun favour boll development.
- Sensitive to waterlogging.
Soil & land preparation
Best on deep, well-drained black or medium soils (also good alluvium) at pH 6.0–8.0.
- Plough deep to a fine, level tilth.
- Mix in 10–12 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Ensure free drainage; cotton dislikes wet feet.
Choosing a type & seed
Hybrids (including Bt hybrids carrying bollworm resistance) are widely grown; choose a duration to suit your season. High-density planting is an option on lighter soils. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Hybrids (delinted): 1.5–2.5 kg/ha.
- Spacing varies with type and system.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep into warm, moist soil.
Seed treatment & refuge
- Use treated, certified seed.
- Where Bt hybrids are grown, sow the recommended refuge to slow resistance.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow into warm, moist, well-drained soil at the season's onset.
- Keep rows about 90–120 cm apart (closer for high-density systems).
- Space plants 45–60 cm within the row.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep; thin to one healthy plant per hill.
- Open drainage channels on heavy land.
Nutrient management
Cotton is a heavy feeder. Split the nitrogen across the long season; phosphorus and potash support roots and bolls.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 10–12 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 100–150 kg/ha | Basal · squaring · flowering |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 50–60 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 50 kg/ha | Basal; supports boll fill |
Water management
Match water to the crop's stages and never waterlog it.
- Most critical at squaring, flowering and boll development.
- Avoid moisture stress at flowering; avoid waterlogging always.
- Drip irrigation, where available, gives precise, efficient watering.
Weed management
- The first 60 days are the critical weed-free period.
- Use a recommended pre-emergence herbicide with intercultivation.
- Earth up while weeding for support and drainage.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucking pests (jassids, aphids, thrips, whitefly) | Pest | Curling, yellowing, sticky leaves early in the crop | Seed treatment, yellow traps, neem, recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Pink bollworm | Pest | Rosetted flowers; bored bolls with stained lint | Pheromone traps, refuge, timely recommended insecticide; destroy stubble |
| American & spotted bollworm | Pest | Holes in squares and bolls | Pheromone traps, Bt where used, threshold-based sprays |
| Bacterial blight | Disease | Angular water-soaked leaf spots | Clean treated seed, resistant types, rotation |
| Wilt / root rot | Disease | Wilting, browning of vascular tissue | Tolerant types, rotation, good drainage |
| Cotton leaf curl virus | Disease | Curled, thickened leaves with vein swelling | Control whitefly early, tolerant types, rogue affected plants |
- Sow treated seed and the recommended refuge; rotate fields.
- Control sucking pests early; protect squares and bolls later.
- Use pheromone traps for bollworms and scout weekly.
- Spray only at the economic threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Pick when the bolls burst and the cotton is fully fluffed and dry, in several rounds, generally from 150–180 days.
- Pick clean, dry cotton; keep it free of trash and stained locks.
- Seed-cotton yields of about 1.5–3 t/ha are achievable under irrigation.
Related crops
Cotton — Package of Practices
A long-season fibre crop for deep, well-drained land — manage sucking pests early and bollworms later, and pick clean white cotton over several rounds.
Overview
Cotton is the major warm-season fibre crop, grown for the lint around its seeds. It needs a long, warm, frost-free season and deep, well-drained soil.
The crop's economics hinge on protection: control sucking pests in the early phase, then the bollworm complex (especially pink bollworm) at flowering and boll set, while keeping whitefly-spread leaf curl in check.
Climate & season
Cotton likes warm, sunny weather (about 21–35 °C) over a long season.
- A kharif crop needing a long frost-free period.
- Warm days and bright sun favour boll development.
- Sensitive to waterlogging.
Soil & land preparation
Best on deep, well-drained black or medium soils (also good alluvium) at pH 6.0–8.0.
- Plough deep to a fine, level tilth.
- Mix in 10–12 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Ensure free drainage; cotton dislikes wet feet.
Choosing a type & seed
Hybrids (including Bt hybrids carrying bollworm resistance) are widely grown; choose a duration to suit your season. High-density planting is an option on lighter soils. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Hybrids (delinted): 1.5–2.5 kg/ha.
- Spacing varies with type and system.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep into warm, moist soil.
Seed treatment & refuge
- Use treated, certified seed.
- Where Bt hybrids are grown, sow the recommended refuge to slow resistance.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow into warm, moist, well-drained soil at the season's onset.
- Keep rows about 90–120 cm apart (closer for high-density systems).
- Space plants 45–60 cm within the row.
- Sow 3–5 cm deep; thin to one healthy plant per hill.
- Open drainage channels on heavy land.
Nutrient management
Cotton is a heavy feeder. Split the nitrogen across the long season; phosphorus and potash support roots and bolls.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 10–12 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 100–150 kg/ha | Basal · squaring · flowering |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 50–60 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 50 kg/ha | Basal; supports boll fill |
Water management
Match water to the crop's stages and never waterlog it.
- Most critical at squaring, flowering and boll development.
- Avoid moisture stress at flowering; avoid waterlogging always.
- Drip irrigation, where available, gives precise, efficient watering.
Weed management
- The first 60 days are the critical weed-free period.
- Use a recommended pre-emergence herbicide with intercultivation.
- Earth up while weeding for support and drainage.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucking pests (jassids, aphids, thrips, whitefly) | Pest | Curling, yellowing, sticky leaves early in the crop | Seed treatment, yellow traps, neem, recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Pink bollworm | Pest | Rosetted flowers; bored bolls with stained lint | Pheromone traps, refuge, timely recommended insecticide; destroy stubble |
| American & spotted bollworm | Pest | Holes in squares and bolls | Pheromone traps, Bt where used, threshold-based sprays |
| Bacterial blight | Disease | Angular water-soaked leaf spots | Clean treated seed, resistant types, rotation |
| Wilt / root rot | Disease | Wilting, browning of vascular tissue | Tolerant types, rotation, good drainage |
| Cotton leaf curl virus | Disease | Curled, thickened leaves with vein swelling | Control whitefly early, tolerant types, rogue affected plants |
- Sow treated seed and the recommended refuge; rotate fields.
- Control sucking pests early; protect squares and bolls later.
- Use pheromone traps for bollworms and scout weekly.
- Spray only at the economic threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Pick when the bolls burst and the cotton is fully fluffed and dry, in several rounds, generally from 150–180 days.
- Pick clean, dry cotton; keep it free of trash and stained locks.
- Seed-cotton yields of about 1.5–3 t/ha are achievable under irrigation.