🌱 Cotton Cultivation Guide
Overview
Cotton is a major cash crop providing raw material for the textile industry. It's grown in hot and dry climates and requires careful pest management. Cotton cultivation offers good profit margins but demands technical knowledge and dedicated care.
White cotton bolls ready for harvesting
Climate & Season Requirements
Ideal Season
- Season: Kharif (Monsoon) crop
- Planting Time: April-June
- Harvesting Time: November-January
- Duration: 210-240 days depending on variety
Climate Requirements
- Temperature: 20-30°C optimal; 15°C minimum for growth
- Rainfall: 60-100 cm annually in dry cotton zones
- Humidity: Low to moderate humidity (ideal condition)
- Sunlight: Requires 8-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Advantage: Drought-tolerant crop
Water Requirements
- Total water requirement: 700-900 mm
- Critical stages: Flowering and boll development
- Supplementary irrigation essential in dry zones
Soil Requirements
Soil Type
- Suitable: Well-drained black soil, loamy, and sandy loam
- pH Level: 6.0-8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Fertility: Good fertility with decent organic matter
- Drainage: Excellent drainage essential
- Avoid: Waterlogged and alkaline soils
Soil Preparation
- Plow field 3-4 times for good tilth
- Add organic manure 5-10 tons per hectare
- Create bed and furrow system for proper drainage
- Conduct soil test before planting
- Ensure field leveling for uniform crop growth
Seed Selection & Sowing
Seed Rate
- Seed rate: 20-30 kg/hectare
- Use high-quality certified seeds with 90%+ germination
- Treat seeds with fungicide and insecticide
Sowing Method
Young cotton plants at early growth stage
- Method: Line sowing with spacing recommended
- Row Spacing: 90-105 cm between rows
- Plant Spacing: 45-60 cm between plants
- Depth: Sow 2-3 cm deep
- Timing: Sow in April-June for monsoon rains
Nutrient Management
Fertilizer Recommendations
| Nutrient | Recommended Dosage (kg/hectare) | Application Method |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 100-150 | Split: At sowing, at flower bud formation, and at flowering |
| Phosphorus (P) | 50-75 | Apply entirely at sowing |
| Potassium (K) | 40-60 | At sowing; additional dose at boll development |
| Sulfur | 20-30 | If deficiency observed in soil test |
Micronutrient Management
- Zinc deficiency is common; apply zinc sulfate at 25 kg/hectare
- Boron deficiency can be corrected with borax application
- Iron and magnesium deficiencies managed through foliar spray
Water Management
- Pre-sowing: One irrigation before sowing if needed
- Vegetative Stage: 2-3 irrigations at 30-45 day intervals
- Flowering: Regular irrigation at 20-25 day intervals critical
- Boll Development: Maintain consistent moisture supply
- Maturity: Stop irrigation 4-5 weeks before harvest
- Total Irrigations: 4-6 depending on season and rainfall
Weed Management
- Pre-emergence: Fluchloralin at 1.5 kg a.i./hectare
- Post-emergence: 2,4-D for broadleaf weeds; Quizalofop for grassy weeds
- Manual Weeding: 2-3 hand weeding at 30, 60, and 90 days
- Mechanical Weeding: Inter-cultivation between rows
- Mulching: Organic mulch reduces weed growth
Pest & Disease Management
Major Pests (Critical for Cotton)
- American Bollworm: Monitor using pheromone traps; spray spinosad or Bt formulations
- Pink Bollworm: Use resistant varieties; cultural practices
- Jassids: Spray thiamethoxam or imidacloprid at early infestation
- Aphids: Use systemic insecticides
- Spider Mites: Apply dicofol or hexythiazox
Common Diseases
- Leaf Curl: Manage vectors; use resistant varieties
- Bacterial Blight: Practice crop rotation; field sanitation
- Fusarium Wilt: Use resistant varieties; improve soil drainage
- Grey Mold: Apply fungicides; ensure good air circulation
Refer to our Pesticides Guide for detailed pest management.
Harvesting & Storage
Harvesting
White cotton bolls ready for harvesting
- Harvest when 50-60% bolls have opened
- Manual picking or mechanical harvesting
- Multiple pickings over season recommended
- Store picked cotton in clean bags
Yield
- Seed cotton yield: 15-25 quintals/hectare
- Lint yield: 5-8 quintals/hectare
- High-yielding varieties: up to 30 quintals/hectare seed cotton
Post-Harvest
- Dry seed cotton to 8-10% moisture
- Store in cool, dry place
- Protect from pest infestation during storage
- Ensure proper baling and packaging
Cotton Varieties
- Bt Cotton: Genetically modified with insect resistance
- Hybrid Varieties: High yield potential
- Non-Bt Varieties: For organic farming
- Long-staple Cotton: Premium quality for fine textiles
⚠️ Important Notes for Cotton:
- Cotton is a high-input crop requiring careful pest management
- Monitor for bollworm regularly using pheromone traps
- Practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques
- Maintain proper nutrition and irrigation schedule
- Use resistant varieties where available
- Follow pesticide safety protocols strictly