COTTON : SEASON,VARIETIES AND CROP PRODUCTION

Today we will learn about the cotton varieties,Season and Crop Production.

I believe that you will definitely benefit from reading a large collection of Cotton Information.

IRRIGATED COTTON CROP PREPARATION OF FIELD FOR IRRIGATED COTTON CROP

1. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD

i)	Prepare the field to get a fine tilt.
ii)	Chiseling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Apply 12.5 t farm yard manure or composted coir pith/ha besides chiseling to get increased yield.
iii)	If inter cropping of Green gram/Soybean is proposed, prepare the main field, so as to provide ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days prior to cotton sowing. 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. Azophos 2kg/ha or Azospirillum + Phosphorus Solubilising Bacteria + Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotropics @ 2.2 kg/ha each apply as basal application.

SEASON AND VARIETIES:

District/Season	Varieties/Hybrids
Irrigated (Main)
Winter Irrigated (Aug – Sep)
Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni	MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, Suvin, TCHB 213*, MCU 12,
	MCU 13, Surabhi
Dharmapuri	MCU 5, TCHB 213*, MCU 12, MCU 13, Surabhi
Salem, Namakkal	MCU 5, Suvin, TCHB 213*, MCU 12, MCU 13, Surabhi
Cuddalore, Villupuram	LRA 5166, SVPR 2, SVPR 4, Surabhi,
Summer – Irrigated (Feb – Mar)
Erode	MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12, MCU 13, Surabhi
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni	MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, SVPR 2, SVPR 4, Surabhi
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai,	MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, SVPR 2, SVPR 4, Surabhi
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
Rainfed (Sep – Oct)
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni	LRA 5166, K11, KC 2, SVPR 2,KC 3
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai	LRA 5166, K 11, KC 2, SVPR 2,KC 3
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Dharmapuri	LRA 5166, K 11, KC 2, SVPR 2,KC 3
Rice Fallow
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Parts of Trichirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Cuddalore and Villupuram	MCU 7, SVPR 3, Anjali

Hybrid

PARTICULARS OF COTTON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS

Varieties/ Hybrids	Parentage	Season	Irrigated/ Rainfed	Mean yield of seed (kg/ha)	Special features
MCU 5	Multiple cross	Aug-Oct Feb-Mar	Irrigated	1850	Extra long staple  (29 mm MHL),  Can spun upto 70s, ginning 34%
MCU 7	X ray irradiation of X L 1143 EE	Jan-Feb	Rice fallows	1330	Medium staple  (23.7 mm MHL), Can spun upto 30s, early maturing with 33.2% ginning outturn. Tolerant to Black arm
MCU 12	Derivative from the cross LRA 5166 x MCU 11	Aug-Oct	Irrigated	2000	Shorter in duration than MCU 5, GOT 34.8% Can spun upto 50s
MCU 13	It is a multiple cross derivative involving the parents of [(TCH 665 x LS 149) x (TCH 665 x TCH 21)] x (TCH 21 x EECH) x (TCH 92-7 x EECH)	Aug- Oct Jan-Feb	Irrigated	2200	Early duration Can spun upto 50s
LRA 5166	Laxmi x Reba B.50 x AC 122	Aug-Oct Jan –Feb	Irrigated Rainfed	1800 725	Medium staple  (29 mm), Can spun upto 40s, ginning 36.2%
MCU 5 VT	Reselection from MCU 5	Aug-Oct   Jan –Feb	Irrigated	2000	Extra long staple, Verticillium wilt tolerant
Supriya	MCU 5 x C 1998	Aug-Oct  Jan-Feb	Irrigated	2000	White fly tolerant
Anjali	LRA 5166 x (Khandwa 2 x Reba B 50) BC 2	Jan –Feb	Irrigated  (Rice fallows)	1800	Dwarf, semi compact plant type
Surabhi	MCU 5 VT (MCU 5 x G.mexicanum)	Aug-Oct	Irrigated	2200	Exta long staple, Verticillium wilt resistant
Sumangala	CW 134 x Reba B 50 x Khandwa 2	Sept-Oct Jan –Feb	Irrigated  Rainfed	2000 1200	Suitable for rainfed tract
Sruthi	70 E x RSP 4	Sept-Oct Jan –Feb	Irrigated	2500	Early duration
K 11	(0794-1-DX H 876) x (0794-1-DX H 450) Multiple Hybrid derivative	Sept – Oct	Rainfed	1100	Better fibre properties with lesser pest incidence than K10
Suvin	Hybrid derivative from the cross Sujatha x St. Vincent	Aug-Oct	Irrigated	1020	Extra long staple cotton with 28% ginning outturn and 32 mm MHL, spins 100s

                              

Varieties/ Hybrids	Parentage	Season	Irrigated/Rainfed	Mean yield of Seed (kg/ha)	Special features
TCHB 213	Interspecific Hybrid of TCH 1218 (G.hirsutum)  and TCB 209 (G.barbadense)	Aug-Sep	Irrigated	2215	High yielding, early maturing, Tolerant to leaf spot diseases
SVPR 2	TSDT 22 x JR 36	Feb - Mar  Sep-Oct	Irrigated  Rainfed	2000	High ginning out turn of 36.4%, medium staple (24.3 mm), can spin 30's, suited to summer irrigated, winter rainfed and tankfed rice fallow tracts of Tamil Nadu.
SVPR 3	Selection from L.H 900 x 1301 D.D	Jan-Feb	Rice fallows	1800	Suitable for rice fallow tract. early duration (135-140 days). Tolerant to drought, leafhopper, alternaria spot,  black arm disease.
KC 2	MCU 10 x KC 1	Sep - Oct	Rainfed	1000	High ginning out turn of 37.5%, medium staple cotton - 24.4 mm, Suited for rainfed black cotton soil of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar Districts.
KC 3	Hybrid derivative of TKH 97x KC1	Sep- Oct	Rainfed	1080	Resistant to leaf hoppermedium staple cotton – 26.4 mim, suited to southern districts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Virudhu Nager district.
SVPR 4	Hybrid derivative of MCU 5x S4727	Feb-Mar Sep- Oct	Irrigated Rainfed	1800	Superior medium staple cotton with good fibre strength. suitable for spinning 40’s yarn.

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 depending upon the variety. Use ridge plough or bund former to form ridges so as to economise on cost of cultivation. In fields with ragi stubbles, just dibble cotton seeds at the specified spacings. Adopt the following spacing between ridges for different varieties/hybrids. 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.

 

5. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

• Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations.
• If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation for the different varieties.
  • If basal application could not be done, apply on the 25th day after sowing.
  • Apply 50 per cent of N and K full dose of P2O5 as basal and remaining ½ N and K at 40 – 45 DAS for varieties.  For hybrids apply N in three splits viz., basal, 45 and 65 DAS.
  • Foliar application of 2% DAP + 1% KCl or polyfeed and Multi k may be sprayed to improve kapas yield.
  • Apply the fertilizers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge, and incorporate. 
  
  

  Varieties / Hybrids	Quantity of fertilizers (Kg/ha)
  	N	P2O5	K20
  MCU 7, SVPR 3	60	30	30
  MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12, MCU 13,Suvin, SVPR 2	80	40	40
  TCHB 213,	120	60	60

  
  

 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

1. In the case of Zinc deficient soils ZnSO4 @ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray thrice at 45, 60 and 75 DAS.

2.When reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4 Urea (1.0%) and ZnSO4 (0.10%) as foliar spray on 50th and 80th day to correct this malady.   In Mg deficient areas apply MgSo4 @ 20 kg/ha basally.

3. Need based foliar spray of 2% MgSo4 + 1% Urea during boll formation stage.

II. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS

I.  SEED RATE

Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids

Varieties / Hybrids	Quantity of seed (Kg/ha)
	With fuzz	Delinted	Naked
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 7, MCU 12, MCU 13	15.00	7.50	..
SVPR 2	15.00	..	..
KC 2	20.00	15.00	..
SUVIN	..	..	6.00
TCHB 213	2.5	2.0	..

2.SPACING 

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

Varieties / hybrids	Spacing ( cm)
	Between rows	Between plants
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12, MCU 13 LRA 5166, SVPR 2	75	30
KC 2	45	15
SUVIN	90	45
TCHB 213	120	60
MCU 7, SVPR 3	60 or 75 *	30

Fertile soils

1.      If cotton intercropped with other crops, one paired row of cotton is alternated with three rows of intercrop and the total population of cotton crop is maintained at the same level as in the case of pure crop.

2.      For intercropping with Greengram / Soybean, complete the sowing and irrigation 20 days prior to cotton sowing on one side of the ridge.

Varieties/hybrid	Spacing for cotton crop ( cm)
	Within  Paired row	Between Paired rows	Between plants
MCU 5,  MCU 5 VT, MCU 12,MCU13	60	90	30
SUVIN	80	100	45
TCHB 213	100	140	60

            Plant two rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton

Intercrop	Seed rate(kg/ha)	Spacing (cm)
		Rows	Plants
Blackgram	12.5	30	10
Greengram	12.5	30	10
Cowpea	7.5	30	20
Soybean	20.0	30	10

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

3. ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS

• Choose plastic bucket bucket for acid delinting of seeds.
• Do not use earthen wares, metal vessels, porcelain wares or wooden drum for acid delinting as concentrated sulphuric acid will corrode them.
• Put the required quantity of seeds in the container and add commercial concentrated sulphuric acid at the rate of 100 ml per kg of fuzzy seed.
• Stir vigorously and continuously with a wooden stick for 2 to 3 minutes till the fuzz sticking to the seeds is completely digested and the seed coat attains a dark brown colour of coffee powder.
• Add water to fill the container. Drain the acid water and repeat the washing 4 or 5 times to remove any trace of acid.
• Remove the floating, ill-filled and damaged seeds while retaining the healthy and good seeds which remain at the bottom.
• Drain the water completely and dry the delinted seeds in shade.

NOTE: Acid delinting has the following advantages:

1.      Eliminates some externally seed borne pathogenic organisms.

2.      Kills eggs, larvae and pupae of pink boll worm.

3.      Helps to remove immature, ill-filled, cut and damaged seeds.

4.      Makes seed dressing more effective and easy

5.      Facilitates easy sowing and good germination.

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

• 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.
• 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

• 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. 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.
• Sow the required number of seeds in each hole.

Varieties / hybrids	No. of seeds / hole
	Fuzzy seeds	Delinted seeds
Hybrids	2	1
Varieties	3	2

6. WEED MANAGEMENT

• Apply Pendimethalin @ 3.3 l/ha  three days after sowing, using a hand operated sprayer fitted with deflecting or fan type nozzle. Sufficient moisture should be present in the soil at the time of herbicide application.  This will ensure weed free condition upto 40 days.
• One hand weeding on 45 DAS will keep weed free environment upto 60 DAS.
• Hoe and hand weed between 18th to 20th day of sowing, if herbicide is not applied at the time of sowing.

 7. GAP FILLING

a. Take up gap filling on the 10th day of sowing.

• In the case of TCHB 213, raise seedlings in polythene bags of size 15  x 10 cm. 
• Fill the polythene bags with a mixture of FYM and soil in the ratio of 1:3. 
• Dibble one seed per bag on the same day when sowing is taken up in the field. 
• Pot water and maintain. 
• 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

• Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N and K on 40 – 45 DAS for varieties.
• Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45 DAS and the remaining 1/3rd on 60-65th DAS for hybrids.

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 SUMMER 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.

Stages	No. of Irrigations	Days after dibbling seeds
		Light soil	Heavy soil
Germination Phase(1-15 days)
Irrigate for germination and establishment	1	Immediately after sowing	Immediately after sowing
	2	Give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out	Give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out
Vegetative phase (16-44 days)
Regulate	1	Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days after hoeing and Weeding	Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days afterhoeing and weeding
	2	Irrigate again on the 35th or 36th day of sowing	Irrigate again on the 40th day ofSowing
Flowering phase (45-100days for hybrids and 87 days for varieties)
Irrigate copiously	1	48th day	55th day
	2	60th day	70th day
	3	72nd day	85th day
	4	84th day	100th day
	5	96th day	**

  

  For  TCHB 213 and Suvin only .

Maturity phase (beyond 100 days for hybrids and 88 days for varieties)	For all varieties other than Suvin,  and TCHB 213
Control irrigation during maturity phase	1	108th day	115th day
	2	120th day	130th day
	3	130th day
	4	144th day
	Stop Irrigation after  150th day
	For Suvin, TCHB213
	1	108th day	115th day
	2	120th day	130th day
	3	132nd day	145th day
	4	144th day	160th day
	5	158th day	...
	Stop irrigation after 160th day
NOTE: If irrigation is given on climatological approach, Schedule the irrigation at 0.40 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively. The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate the irrigationdepending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains. Adopt alternate furrow or skip furrow irrigation to save irrigation water.

 The features of the methods are furnished below: 

Skip furrow irrigation

1.      Suited to heavy soils like clay and loam

2.      Alternate furrows should be skipped and may be converted to ridges having a wide bed formation.

3.      Short term crops like pulses may be raised in wider bed without exclusive irrigation.

4.      Water saving is 50% when compared to control.

Alternate furrow irrigation

1.      During any one run of irrigation a particular set of alternate furrows is irrigated.

2.      The interval of irrigation should be shortened when compared to the conventional furrows.

3.      During the next run, the left over furrows be irrigated.

4.      Suited to heavy soils like clay and loam.

IV. HARVESTING

1.      Harvest at frequent intervals, at less than 7 days interval.

2.      Harvest in the morning hours upto 10 to 11 a.m only when there is moisture so that dry leaves and bracts do not stick to the kapas and lower the market value.

3.      Pick kapas from well burst bolls only.

4.      Remove only the kapas from the bolls and leave the bracts on the plants.

5.      After kapas is picked, sort out good puffy ones and keep separately.

6.      Keep stained, discoloured and insect attacked kapas separately.

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.

V. POST HARVEST OPERATIONS

• Immediately after picking, dry the kapas in shade. If it is not dried immediately the colour will change which will lower the market value.
• Do not dry the kapas under direct sun as the fibre strength and luster will be lost.
• Grade the kapas into good and second quality ones, if it is not sorted out at the time of picking.
• Spread a thin layer of dry sand on the ground and keep the kapas over it.