Cross sub-soiling @ 1.0m spacing should be done before preparing field. This should be done by tractor drawn sub-soiler (chisler) to depth of 45-50 cm.
- Give planking to break the clods and then prepare fine seed bed. This will help in breaking the hard pan, increasing water infiltration rate, fertilizer uptake and better root development of cotton plants.
- Heavy pre-sowing irrigation is must to obtain good germination and early establishment of plants.
Variety selection- According to soil condition and state preference
Punjab- PAU Bt- 0 3, PAU Bt- 02 and PAU Bt- 01
U.P, Haryana, MP, MH- Rasi 773, 776, 650, US agri seeds 51 and Ajay 555 Bt.
Acid delinting of seeds-
Mix 100 g commercial grade concentrated sulphuric acid with 1 kg cotton seed in earthen/ plastic container by stirring it vigorously for two to three minutes with a thick wooden stick. As soon as the fuzz gets dissolved, add 10 litres of water, stir well and drain out water through the perforated plastic basket. Repeat these washings three times to make the seed free from sulphuric acid residue. Dip the washed seed for about one minute in sodium bicarbonate solution (12.5 g sodium bicarbonate in 2.5 litres of water) to neutralize the acid residue on the cotton seed. Give one more washing with water and remove light, damaged and rotten inviable seeds floating on the surface. Dry the healthy fuzz-free seed in the shade by spreading in a thin layer.
Field preparation-
Cotton is sown on ridges and furrows. For irrigated cotton the land is given a deep ploughing followed by two harrowing and then rotavator used for seed preparation. Cow dung 5-6 trolly per acre is used, if previous year given then no need for this year. Ridges and furrows having different spacing for irrigated and rainfed cotton. For irrigated cotton shallow ridges of 90cm should be prepared which helps in irrigation.
Seed Priming:
Soak the seed in a solution of 0.5 g succinic acid and 5 litres of water for 2-4 hours in case of acid delinted seed or 6-8 hours in case of non-delinted seed to promote good establishment of plant stand, better early growth and more yield. In soils irrigated with sodic water (RSC > 2.5 meq per L), treat the seed with the liquid bioformulations (Azo+PSB+ZnSB) along with gypsum (25% of Gypsum Requirement) application. This will reduce the adverse effects of sodic water irrigation while sustaining soil health and cotton productivity in cotton-wheat system.
Sowing-
Small shallow holes should be prepared on middle of ridges upto 2-3 inch deep and apply basal dose of 15g DAP,15g MOP and 15g SSP mixture and 1.0-1.5g of thimet and cover the holes with soil.
On each hill 3-4 cotton seeds should be dibble and cover completely with soil and apply irrigation immediately.
Fertilizer application- The recommended dose is 100:50:50 kg N, P and K/hac.
- First application given as 20% N and whole P & K @ time of sowing as basal dose.
Weeding-
For control of weeds particularly itsit, madhana/makra, apply 1.0 litre per acre Stomp 30 EC (pendimethalin) as pre-emergence within 24 hours of sowing.
Insect-Pests management-
• Grow only recommended Bt-cotton cultivars.
• Prefer to grow desi cotton in area of high infestation of whitefly and leaf curl.
• Seed treatment with insecticide Imidacloprid 48% FS or Imidacloprid 70% WS @ 500 – 1000g per 100kg seeds
• Even the apparently healthy seed-cotton (kapas) may be harbouring larvae of pink bollworm. It should be acid delinted or thoroughly dried in the sun in a thin layer for 3-4 consecutive days in April.
• Complete the sowing up to 15th May.
• Eradicate weeds like kanghi buti, peeli buti, puth kanda, congress grass, itsit growing on field bunds, waste lands, road side and irrigation channels/canals to avoid further spread of whitefly, mealybug, tobacco caterpillar and spotted bollworm to cotton fields.
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