Cultivation - Life Cycle of Cotton Crop
Description:
Hi, welcome to Tutorialspoint. In this tutorial, we will learn about the cultivation process of cotton crop. Cotton has different names in different languages. In Hindi, it is called Kapaas. The botanical name of cotton is Gossypium Hirsutum. It belongs to the family Malvaceae.
Cotton plant is an annual or perennial herb or shrub reaching up to a height of 2 mts. The leaves are heart-shaped (cordate) at the base and grow around 10 cms long. The flowers of the cotton crop are yellowish white, fading to pinkish purple. The fruits capsules are up to 4 cms long; broadly ovoid to sub globose. These fruits are beaked at the tip; 3-5-celled, each cell contains up to 11 copiously hairy and fuzzy seeds. Cotton seeds are by and large, pollinated by insects.
Cotton plants grow to a height of 2 to 4 feet. The cultivation of cotton crop requires a warm and humid climate. It grows well in sub-tropical regions. The ideal temperature range for cotton crop cultivation is between 25oc to 30oc.
Let us see the stages involved in the cultivation process of cotton crop &minu;
- Land preparation
- Seed sowing
- Weeding and intercultural operations
- Pest and disease management
- Flowering and boll formation
- Harvesting
Let us now see how the land is prepared for the cultivation of cotton crop.
Land Preparation
Well-drained loamy soils rich in organic matter, medium black to deep black with a suitable pH range between 6-8 are considered best for the cultivation of cotton crop.
The soil should be plowed to attain a reasonable depth of 10−20 cms with varying clod sizes. The land is prepared by giving 2-3 ploughings and clod crushing after each ploughing. Disc plough / chisel plough can be used for ploughing.
Four to Five cartloads of Compost or FYM should be spread and mixed well in the soil. The land is levelled by using clod crusher after each fertilizer application for proper incorporation of fertilizer.
Cotton crop requires very less water. Hence, there is no need of drip irrigation arrangement. Basically, cotton is a rain fed crop; so, water through rains is enough for the crop.
Next, we will learn how the seeds are sown in the field.
Seed Sowing
Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%) for 8 hours. This is followed by drying the seeds back to original moisture to increase germination. The seeds need to be dried in shade.
The seeds are to be dibbled at a depth of 3-5 cms on the side of the ridge 2/3 height from the top and above the band where fertilizers and insecticides are applied. Maintain correct spacing and then cover the seeds with soil. In case of intercropping, sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of cotton in a row 5 cms apart and cover the seeds.
Sow the required number of seeds in each hole. Once seed sowing is complete, the seeds will germinate and seedlings will emerge. It will take 14 to 15 days for complete emergence of seedlings from the field.
Let us now learn about the weed management practices in the cultivation process of cotton crop.
Weeding and Intercultural Operations
The growth rate of weeds is very high. Weeds normally have high photosynthetic efficiency. Weeds adversely affect the crop production; they reduce yield, quality and marketability of vegetables.
Weed infestation increases the cost of cultivation, as control measures require labour, material, equipment and management.
Some weeds act as the hiding place for insect-pests and take the role of host plants for various pathogens. Weeds block the drainage and impede the flow of water in irrigation channels.
Deep ploughings, digging and removal of rhizomes and perennial weeds is necessary.
Periodical harrowing reduces weeds.
For transplanted crops at 25-30 days after transplanting, one inter cultivation with blade harrow followed by line weeding within the rows is necessary. Subsequent intercultures at 10-12 days intervals until full coverage of land by crop should be given.
If the crop is transplanted on ridges, the weeding that is invariably required at intervals of 3-4 days after each irrigation preferably with a hand hoe.
Pest and disease management
The major pests that attack the cotton crop are American Boll Worm, Leaf Hoppers, Mirids, Aphids, and Whiteflies.
Diseases such as Fusarium Wilt, Alternaria Leaf Blight, Root Rot, Cercospora Leaf Spot, and Bacterial Blight also attack the cotton crop.
- To control American Boll worm, spray pesticide Acephate.
- To control Leaf Hopper, spray insecticide Dimethoate.
- To control Aphids, spray pesticide Imidacloprid.
- To control Whiteflies, spray insecticide neem seed oil.
- To control Fusarium Wilt, spray Carbendaz.
- To control Leaf Spot, spray Mancozeb.
- To control Alternaria Leaf Blight, spray Mancozeb.
- To control Root Rot, drenching the root in Carbendazim is suggested.
- To control Anthracnose, spray Mancozeb
Flowering and Boll formation
Cotton flowers usually are self-pollinated. The frequency of cross-pollination increases with bees and other insects helping in it. Temperatures above 100°F, moisture, rain or high humidity, reduce the rate of pollination. It is very important to note that a bloom does not pollinate after the first day.
The creamy or white petals of the flower turn pink after 24 hours. The flowers shed within a week as the fertilized ovules of the ovary grow into a boll.
Not every boll that is formed on the plant meets maturity. In case when not too many ovules fertilize, the boll will fall from the plant 7 to 10 days after flowering. Insects, will feed on and/or bore into the boll. A boll of 1 to 10 days age might get aborted if there is any damage done to it. After 12 days, the boll generally remains on the plant and the damaged locks result in reduced yields.
With the bolls growing larger and larger, they turn from green to purple to brown. When a boll reaches the pinnacle of its size, the bracts dry and the boll cracks open. Over time, the bracts continue to pull apart until the cotton becomes exposed.
Let us see the harvesting practices involved in the cultivation of cotton crop.
Harvesting
Cotton planted in August and September can be harvested January onwards. Harvesting should start when enough mature bolls are fully open. This usually occurs from the middle to the end of January. It is important that harvesting should be supervised for higher yields and a more complete pick. Persons picking cotton should not be allowed to randomly pick from just anywhere in the field. The pickers should be assigned specific rows at a time. Stained cotton and trash should not be harvested.
Yield
Average yield for cotton is 1500lbs/ha.