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Cotton is known for its use in making clothing. Cotton is commonly referred to as the "White gold" or "Golden fibre" because Cotton serves various utility purposes and is one of the most desirable crops in India and worldwide. Cotton is known as Kapas, Paruthi, and Patti in other Indian languages.There are four different types of cotton such as Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboreum, and Gossypium herbaceum. Cotton belongs to the Malvaceae family.

The different parts of Cotton have different uses. Cotton fibre is used in weaving fabrics. Cotton seeds are crushed for oil extraction. Cotton seed oil is used to make cosmetics, rubber, etc. Cotton linters (part remaining after ginning of cotton seeds) are used to make bandages, swabs, cotton buds, and X-rays.

China, India, and the USA are a few leading cotton-producing countries in the world. Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana are a few major cotton-producing states in India.

Climate for Cotton Farming

Kapas is a tropical plant. Cotton plant thrives in hot, humid, and frost-free conditions. For the germination of cotton seeds, a minimum daily temperature of 16°C is required. The cotton plant grows best with temperatures between 21°C and 27°C.

Plenty of sunshine, especially during the Paruthi boll maturation and harvest period, is essential for high-quality Kapas. The Kapas plant is highly sensitive to frost. Even short frost exposure damages plant cells and severe frost can kill the plant completely.

Soil for Sowing Cotton Seeds

The cotton plant has deep roots. Ideally, soil for cotton crop cultivation should retain water effectively, especially since much of India's Kapas is grown in rainfed areas. Good drainage and airflow in the soil are also important because the Kapas plant is sensitive to waterlogging.

In India, black soil is especially suited for Paruthi. Its clay-like texture holds moisture well and contains essential nutrients like humus, iron, lime, potash, and calcium. Paruthi can tolerate a soil pH range from 5.5 to 8.5.

In India, Kapas farming is done in different soil types, such as Alluvial, Black Cotton, Red, and Laterite soils.

Land Preparation for Sowing Cotton Seeds

The land preparation for Cotton begins by clearing weeds, debris, and any residues from previous crops. A deep ploughing of about 15-20 cm is then done to loosen the soil and improve airflow. The field is harrowed 2-4 times to create a smooth, level seedbed. After levelling and planking the soil, ridges are formed for sowing Kapas seeds. Finally, Paruthi seeds are planted along these ridges.

Cotton Seeds and Propagation Material

Selection of Cotton Variety: Select the cotton variety based on factors such as fiber quality, yield potential, climate conditions, soil type, weed and pest resistance, and maturity period.

Purchasing High-Quality Cotton Seeds: High-quality cotton seeds are essential for a high-yielding crop. At Desikheti, a wide range of quality cotton seeds is available, and the seeds are delivered directly to farmers' doorsteps.

Cotton seed rate: Generally, the seed rate for cotton is 900 g per acre of land. However, the exact seed rate varies based on factors such as spacing, method of sowing, etc.

Cotton Seed Treatment: Generally, the Cotton seeds sold by private companies are pre-treated with chemicals. If the seeds are not pre-treated and delinting has not been done, first, the cotton seeds need to be delinted. After this, the Cotton seeds can be treated with Captan at 2 grams per kg of delinted seed.

Time of Sowing Cotton Seeds

The best time to sow cotton seeds depends on the region, as each state in India has a unique climate and soil conditions. In the north, the sowing of cotton seeds usually begins from April to May. In South India, the sowing of cotton seeds is often done late compared to North India.

Kharif season: Cotton seeds are sown in the months of May to July.
Rabi season: Cotton seeds are sown in the months of September to October.
Summer season: Cotton seeds are sown in the months of January to February.

Method of Sowing Cotton Seeds

Cotton seeds are usually sown with a seed drill attached to a tractor or bullock cart or by dibbling. It is important to maintain enough space between Kapas plant rows to ensure proper irrigation and airflow.

Cotton seeds should be placed 4 to 6 cm deep. In the case of Cotton Varieties, two cotton seeds are sown per hill, while for Paruthi hybrids, only one cotton seed is sown per hill.

Spacing requirements differ based on the cotton seed type, region and other factors. In the case of Varieties, generally, cotton seeds are sown at a spacing of 45–60 x 15 cm for rainfed crops and 90–120 x 45–60 cm for irrigated Kapas crops. Hybrid cotton seeds are sown at 90–150 x 45–60 cm spacing.

Gap filling is done within 10 days of sowing cotton seeds to maintain optimal plant density. In polythene bags, a few cotton seeds are sown to raise cotton seedlings for gap filling. Cotton seeds for these seedlings are sown at the same time as sowing cotton seeds in the field to ensure uniform growth of Kapas plants.

Thinning is done within three weeks of sowing cotton seeds in the field by removing weak, diseased, or damaged cotton seedlings. Gap filling and Thinning help to maintain the ideal number of Kapas plants per area.

Nutrient Management in Cotton Cultivation

At the final ploughing, mix 15 to 20 tons of farmyard manure (FYM) per hectare into the soil. Fertilizer needs vary depending on the cotton variety, irrigation, and soil nutrient levels.

General Fertilizer Doses recommended for Cotton are:

Desi Cotton: 20–40 kg Nitrogen (N), 20 kg Phosphorus (P₂O₅), 20 kg Potassium (K₂O) per hectare
American Varieties: 90 kg N, 45 kg P₂O₅, 45 kg K₂O per hectare
Hybrids: 120 kg N, 60 kg P₂O₅, 60 kg K₂O per hectare

Apply all phosphorus (P₂O₅) as a basal dose at the last ploughing and incorporate it into the soil. Split nitrogen (N) and potassium (K₂O) into three equal parts and apply them at 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing cotton seeds.

Irrigation Management in Cotton Farming

Cotton is a drought-tolerant crop. Kapas crop has deep roots. The cotton crop needs 600 to 800 mm of water. The irrigation frequency in Paruthi crops depends on soil type, rainfall, and climate. It's important to avoid water stress during Kapas crop flowering and fruiting, as this can cause the shedding of cotton buds and bolls, leading to yield loss.

Paruthi crops cannot tolerate excess moisture. Kapas cannot tolerate waterlogging at any growth stage. Therefore, it is essential to monitor soil moisture to prevent over- or under-irrigation, both of which can harm the Kapas crop.

Weed Management in Cotton Cultivation

The field must be kept free of weeds to promote healthy growth and higher yields in Kapas crops. The Kapascrop grows slowly at first, making it more vulnerable to weeds. The first 50-60 days after sowing Kapas seeds are critical for the crop, as weed competition is most intense during this period. Depending on weed pressure, 5-6 intercultural operations should be done in a Kapas field.

Pest and Disease Management in Cotton Farming

Common Pests of Cotton are

Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)

The formation of "rosette" clusters in Kapas flowers can be observed, affecting the appearance and health of Kapas plants.
Kapas flowers drop early.
Premature Cotton boll opening occurs, leading to fungal infections.
Paruthi Lint development slows down, and lint is stained, reducing quality and ginning efficiency.

Spotted Bollworm (Earias vitella, Earias insulana)

This disease appears around six weeks after sowing Paruthi seeds.
Larva bores into tender shoots of the Kapas plants during the vegetative stage, causing the shoots to dry up, wither, and eventually fall off.
Later, the larva bores into Kapas flower buds, squares, and bolls, leaving behind excreta. Bored Cotton flower buds and bolls have small holes with larval excreta around the entry points.
Larvae often move from one Paruthi bud or boll to another, leading to extensive shedding of early cotton flower buds and bolls.
Damaged Kapas bolls may open early but remain attached to the plant. The Paruthi lint quality is affected.

Tobacco Caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)

In the early stages, caterpillars feed by scraping away the chlorophyll from cotton leaves and giving them a papery, white look.
As they grow, they feed more aggressively, creating irregular holes in the Paruthi leaves until only the veins and petioles are left.
During the Kapas flowering and boll formation stages, caterpillars also feed on the inside of Kapas bolls, leaving behind irregular holes.

American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)

Young larvae initially feed on Kapas leaves and later feed on cotton squares and bolls.
The larva feeds on the internal tissues of Kapas squares and bolls, often leaving the cotton squares and bolls hollow and empty.
While feeding, larvae insert only their heads inside, with the rest of their bodies visible outside.
Premature opening and shedding of affected Paruthi bolls can be observed.

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)

Nymphs and adults suck sap from the underside of cotton leaves, leading to yellow spots.
These yellow spots spread and form irregular patches from the veins to the edges of the Kapas plant leaves.
Kapas plant growth is slowed, and boll formation is reduced.
Difficulty in Paruthi boll opening and increased shedding of bolls can be observed.
Kapas lint quality and cotton seed oil content are reduced due to this infestation.
Whitefly also transmit the leaf curl virus, further impacting crop health.

Cotton Aphid (Aphis gossypii)

Nymphs and adults feed on the sap by sucking on the underside of the Kapas leaves.
Kapas plant leaves become curled and dry out. Cotton plant growth is stunted, and the plant may eventually die as the damage progresses.
Black sooty mold appears due to the honeydew secretion, giving the Kapas plant a dark, unhealthy look.
These insects target tender shoots and the underside of Kapas leaves, often in large numbers, leading to significant plant damage.

Common Diseases of Cotton

Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae)

The disease symptoms start showing up when the Cotton crop reaches the square and boll stages.
Kapas Plants infected early become severely stunted and don't grow as expected.
Paruthi Leaves develop pale yellow patches around the edges and between major veins. The leaf damage spreads from the bottom to the top of the Kapas plant, causing heavy leaf drops.
Inside infected Paruthi stems and roots, the woody tissue shows pinkish or pinkish-brown discoloration.
Infected Kapas plants often have fewer, smaller bolls with immature lint, impacting the overall yield.

Root rot (Rhizoctonia bataticola)

In young Cotton seedlings (1–2 weeks old), the fungus creates black lesions on the stem just above the roots, which can girdle the stem and kill the Paruthi seedling.
This leads to noticeable gaps in the field where Cotton seedlings have died.
In Kapas plants around 4–6 weeks old, dark reddish-brown cankers develop near the soil line on the stem. This often causes the Paruthi plant to break at the collar region, leading to leaf drying and eventually killing the entire plant.
As Cotton plants reach maturity, root rot becomes the dominant symptom.
Affected Kapas plants wilt suddenly and completely in circular patches, with all leaves drooping and dying within a couple of days.
When these Paruthi plants are pulled from the soil, the roots show severe decay, with only the taproot and a few lateral roots remaining intact.

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum capsici)

The fungus infects cotton plants at both the seedling and mature stages.
This disease results in the formation of small reddish spots on the cotyledons and primary leaves of Paruthi seedlings. Lesions develop around the base of the stem. Kapas seedlings wilt and eventually die.
In mature Paruthi plants, the fungus attacks the stem, causing it to split open and the bark to shred.
The most common symptom appears on Kapas bolls, where small, water-soaked, reddish-brown spots develop, forming sunken areas.
Affected Kapas bolls stop growing, burst open, and dry out prematurely.
The lint inside the affected Kapas bolls turns yellow or brown, hardens, and becomes brittle.

Cercospora Leaf spot (Cercospora gossypina)

The disease usually starts on the lower leaves of cotton plants, with Small, water-soaked spots appearing on the upper side of the leaves.
These spots enlarge and become circular or irregular in shape, with a greyish-white centre and a brown border. Multiple spots may merge to form larger, irregular patches on the Kapas leaf.
The centre of the spots may break away, leaving small holes in the Paruthi leaves. Eventually, the affected Kapas plant leaves may fall off the plant.

Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria macrospora)

The disease can affect Cotton plants at any growth stage but is most severe when 45–60 days old.
Small, brown, round spots with a purple border appear on the Paruthi leaves.
On older leaves of the Kapas plant, the centre of the spots becomes necrotic and may show concentric rings. Several spots may merge, forming large, blighted areas on the Cotton leaves.
The spots turn sooty black in humid conditions, leading to premature leaf drop in Kapas plants.
Lesions may also appear on the Paruthi plant stems in some cases. In severe cases, the infection spreads to the leaf stalks and bolls, causing purple, spherical or elliptical spots.

Harvesting of Cotton

Cotton crop can be harvested when the cotton bolls are fully developed and split open. This usually happens about 140 to 160 days after sowing Paruthi seeds, depending on the cotton variety and growing conditions. Kapas can be harvested by hand or machine. In most cases, Cotton is picked by hand from the open, mature bolls. Because Paruthi plants flower in multiple cycles, not all cotton bolls ripen at the same time. They mature in stages, usually every 2 to 4 weeks. Harvesting is done in 4 to 5 rounds as each set of cotton bolls reaches full maturity.

Careful handling is essential to preserve Paruthi fibre quality. Experienced pickers ensure that all cotton fibre is gathered from each boll with a single, smooth stroke. Paruthi from each picking should be dried and stored separately, as the quality varies from one round to the next. Drying of Kapas should be done in shaded areas on clean surfaces to avoid contamination. It's also important to keep Kapas free from foreign material like leaves, dirt, and debris during picking and drying.

Weather conditions play a big role in the quality of cotton fibre. Harvesting should begin early in the morning after the dew has lifted. As the day progresses, sunlight can make the bolls brittle, causing them to break and potentially contaminate the Cotton. Early pickings typically produce higher-quality Paruthi fibre, while later pickings may result in lower quality due to reduced nutrients, increased pests, and drier soil conditions.

Cotton Yield

Cotton yield depends on several factors, including the cotton seed variety, soil fertility, weather, and management practices. The yield generally ranges from 10 to 15 quintals per hectare for dryland cotton crops. Irrigated cotton crops usually produce 25 to 30 quintals per hectare. Hybrid cotton varieties yield the highest, reaching 35 to 40 quintals per hectare.

Collection: COTTON

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