COTTON CROP MANAGEMENT • RAJASTHAN
Desi, American & Bt Cotton
Management Comparison
A professional, mobile-friendly comparison of sowing, seed rate, plant geometry, fertilizers, growth regulators, irrigation and integrated disease management.
01
POINTS 2–6
Crop Establishment & Growth Management
Management Point
Desi Cotton
American Cotton
Bt Cotton Hybrids
Sowing time
April 1st week to May 1st week
1–20 May
1–20 May
Seed rate
12 kg/ha (Fuzzed)
16 kg/ha (Fuzzed)
1.80 kg/ha
Plant geometry
Varieties: 67.5 cm × 30 cm; 49,383 plants/ha
Hybrids: 67.5 cm × 60 cm; 24,691 plants/ha
Hybrids: 67.5 cm × 60 cm; 24,691 plants/ha
90 cm × 30 cm; 37,037 plants/ha
Drip: 120 cm × 60 cm; 13,889 plants/ha
Drip: 120 cm × 60 cm; 13,889 plants/ha
67.5 cm × 90 cm; 16,461 plants/ha; or
108 cm × 60 cm; 15,432 plants/ha
Drip: 120 cm × 60 cm; 13,889 plants/ha
108 cm × 60 cm; 15,432 plants/ha
Drip: 120 cm × 60 cm; 13,889 plants/ha
Fertilizers
FYM 8.0 t/ha and Gypsum 150 kg/ha
Fertilizers:
Varieties: N-90 kg, P-20 kg/ha
Hybrids: N-90 kg, P-40 kg/ha
ZnSO₄ 24 kg/ha before sowing
Fertilizers:
Varieties: N-90 kg, P-20 kg/ha
Hybrids: N-90 kg, P-40 kg/ha
ZnSO₄ 24 kg/ha before sowing
FYM 10 t/ha and Gypsum 150 kg/ha
Fertilizers: N-150 kg, P-40 kg, K-20 kg, ZnSO₄-24 kg/ha
Foliar spray at flowering and boll formation:
0.5% Zinc sulphate • 2% Potassium nitrate • 0.1% Boron
Fertilizers: N-150 kg, P-40 kg, K-20 kg, ZnSO₄-24 kg/ha
Foliar spray at flowering and boll formation:
0.5% Zinc sulphate • 2% Potassium nitrate • 0.1% Boron
Fertilizer recommendation as per Inter-State Committee (North Zone) and Department of Agriculture to Government of Rajasthan.
Plant growth regulators
• Flower & Fruit drop management: Foliar spray of Acemone or Planofix @ 2.5 ml/100 lit of water
• Canopy management: Foliar spray of Mepiquat chloride @ 2.5 ml/lit of water at 60 DAS
• Excessive growth management: Foliar spray of Lihosin (Chlormequat Chloride) @ 5 ml/100 lit of water at 90 DAS
• Moisture stress management: Foliar spray of Salicylic acid 5.0 g/100 lit of water
• Para wilt management in Bt. cotton: Foliar spray of 1.0 g Cobalt Chloride + 50 g Sodium Benzoate in 100 lit of water within 24 hrs of Para wilt occurrence
• Canopy management: Foliar spray of Mepiquat chloride @ 2.5 ml/lit of water at 60 DAS
• Excessive growth management: Foliar spray of Lihosin (Chlormequat Chloride) @ 5 ml/100 lit of water at 90 DAS
• Moisture stress management: Foliar spray of Salicylic acid 5.0 g/100 lit of water
• Para wilt management in Bt. cotton: Foliar spray of 1.0 g Cobalt Chloride + 50 g Sodium Benzoate in 100 lit of water within 24 hrs of Para wilt occurrence
Same crop growth regulator recommendations shown in the supplied chart.
Same crop growth regulator recommendations shown in the supplied chart.
02
POINT 7
Irrigation Management
DESI COTTON
4–5
Total Irrigations
1st irrigation: 35–40 days after sowing
Subsequent irrigations: at 25–30 days interval
AMERICAN COTTON + BT HYBRIDS
6
Total Irrigations
1st irrigation: 30–35 days after sowing
Subsequent irrigations: at 20–25 days interval
Last irrigation: during the first week of October
03
POINT 8
Integrated Disease Management
Root Rot Disease
- Follow crop rotation.
- Soil application of Trichoderma harzianum @ 10 kg pre-incubated in 200 kg FYM per hectare.
- Seed treatment with T. harzianum @ 10 g/kg seed, or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed, or Carbendazim 50 WP @ 2 g/kg seed.
- Drenching early symptomatic and surrounding plants with Carbendazim 50 WP @ 2 g/litre of water.
Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD)
- Follow clean cultivation by removing weeds which act as alternate host for vector whitefly.
- Effective management of whitefly.
- Timely sowing of recommended varieties & Bt. Hybrids.
- Desi cotton should be preferred over American cotton in hot spot areas.