1. Sugarcane, Sesame & Cotton:
A Brief Introduction
Presented by :
Anubhaw Kumar Shandilya
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2. Flow of Presentation
Introduction
Sugarcane Package of practices
Brief discussion
Introduction
Sesame Package of practices
Brief discussion
Introduction
Cotton Package of practices
Brief discussion
Questionnaire Discussion
Closure
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3. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)
Sugarcane- origin- New Guinea- 6000 BC.
Two main groups:
i. Thin, hardy North Indian types S. barberi and the
Chinese S. sinenses, and,
ii. Thick, juicy noble canes S. officinarum.
India stands first in area (5.47 M.ha) and production (380 M.t) among the sugarcane
growing countries of Asia.
The average yield of cane stalk is 60-70 tones per hectare per year.
Sugarcane Scenario
Productivity wise, Tamil
Nadu stands first with over
100 t/ha followed by
Karnataka & Maharashtra.
MSP- 139.12 Rs/ Qtls.
The sugar industry is the
Map Legend: second largest agro-based
Lowest Productivity
Largest Productivity
industry, next only to
Major Sugar Cane Producing States textiles, in the country.
Potential Area
Largest Area & Production
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5. Nursery Management
Location of Nursery:
i. No Alkaline, Saline, Acidic, or Water Logging.
ii. There should be adequate irrigation facility.
Main season
iii. Different Division of seed plot for accessibility.
Land preparations: i. Early: Dec - Jan
Ploughing and Cultivation is essential – High amount of ii. Mid: Feb - March
organic manure is advantageous for nursery crops for iii. Late: April - May
obtaining a vigorous crop. Therefore, about 25 to 30 Special season: June – July
tones of FYM per ha may be applied about 15 days before Early season varieties are
planting. suitable for special season.
Spacing: Eksali season: Throughout
i. Ridges and furrows – 75-80 cm between rows the year except June.
ii. Dual row planting - 150 cm between two broad Nursery
Main Field Crop
furrows (In middle of the furrows sugarcane setts are Crop
planted in two rows adopting a spacing of 30 cm June Dec-Jan (Main Season)
between them)
July Feb-Mar (Mid Season)
iii. Pit method of planting - Pit to pit spacing- 150 cm x
150 cm. August Apr-May (Late Season)
Sett rate: Dec-Apr Jun-Sep (Special Season)
Two-budded setts -75,000 setts /ha Three budded setts -
40,000 setts /ha.
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6. Nursery Management Cont/-
Sett treatment:
i. Preparation of setts for planting:
a) Take seed material from short crop (6 to 7 months age)
free from pests and diseases incidence.
b) Harvest the seed crop one day before planting to obtain
higher percentage and uniform germination.
c) Detrash the canes with hand before sett preparation.
d) Avoid damage to buds while cutting sett.
e) Planting material or seed cane should be free from aerial
roots and splits.
f) Change the seed material after every two to three
seasons. If it is inevitable to use mature cane as seed, the
top one-third portion can be used satisfactorily.
ii. Sett treatment with Azospirillum: Prepare the slurry with 10 packets (2 Kg/ha)
in 100l of water and soak the setts in the slurry for 15 minutes before planting.
iii. Sett treatment with fungicide: Soaked in Carbendazim at 1 gram/ 1litre water.
iv. Aerated steam treatment: Treat setts with Aerated steam at 50° C for
one hour to control primary infection of grassy shoot disease.
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7. Nursery Management Cont/-
Before planting setts:
i. Use young crop (6-8 months old) seed material
ii. Discard pest, disease affected and damaged buds and canes.
iii. Do not detrash & prop the seed cane crop.
iv. Apply 125 kg Urea / ha + 125 kg MOP/ha one month prior to
harvest
v. Irrigate the crop well before harvest
vi. Detrash the cane with hand at the time of sett preparation
vii. Selection of proper planting months for raising nursery crop in
Nursery
relation to main field planting.
Polybag Nursery:
i. Polythene bags of 10x15cm filled with soil and compost mixture (in
1:1 ratio) are arranged closely in an open space, close to water
source.
ii. Scooped buds are planted at 1-2 cm depth.
iii. Cut sugarcane pieces with one bud can also be used for raising the
nursery.
iv. Insert these cut pieces into the soil filled bags up to the node level, Polybag Nursery
keeping buds just touching the soil.
v. Irrigate these bags twice a week. Saplings- ready- 60 days for
planting.
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8. Cultivation Practices
Land Preparation
i) Ploughing: The common method of tillage preparation
is ploughing the land and bringing the soil to fine tilth.
Ploughing- 2 to 4 times at the depth of 50-60 cm.
ii) Harrowing: Harrowing is done at shallow depth of 12-
15 cm to crush the clods by disc harrow or rotavator.
iii) Levelling: Levelling can be carried out using a tractor Disc Ploughing
operated leveller.
iv) Lay out of field: Irrigation-cum-drainage channels
along and across the slope of the field at 10-15 m
intervals.
v) Basal application of organic manures and fertilizers:
a) FYM at 12-15 t/ha or compost at 25 t/ha before Harrowing
the last ploughing.
b) Apply super phosphate (375 kg/ha) along the
furrows and incorporate with hand hoe.
c) Apply 37.5 kg Zinc sulphate/ha and 100 kg
Ferrous sulphate/ha to zinc and iron deficient
soils. Layout of Field
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9. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
(vi) Main field preparation and transplanting:
Manures are applied basally in the furrow in band or by digging a pit at the site of
transplant. Then furrow is irrigated. The nursery bed should be well soaked so that
the settling could be easily removed without much damage to the root system.
Then they are transplanted in the furrow following 30-45 cm spacing. An
additional line may be planted in every 10th row. The life irrigation is given on 3rd or
4th day. After 10-15 days, the gap filling is done using the settlings planted on the 10th
row. Proper irrigation management till settlings establish is very important.
Planting Cane Setts in Furrows Flat Method Furrow Method
Placing Setts in Furrows Pit Method Earthed Up in Pit Method
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10. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
Intercultural operations
i. Trash mulching:
a) Mulch the ridges uniformly with cane trash to a thickness of 10
cm within a week after planting.
b) It helps to tide over drought, conserve moisture, reduce weed
population and minimize shoot borer incidence.
c) Mulch the field with trash after 21 days of planting in heavy soil
and wetland conditions. Avoid trash mulching in areas where
incidence of termites is noticed. Trash Mulching
d) Trash mulching in between rows of crop.
ii. Raising Inter Crops:
Season Main Crop Inter Crop
Maize, Soyabean, Sorghum,
Kharif (Mid June/ Sep-Oct) Sugarcane
Sunflower, Jowar, Mung, Urd.
Wheat, Chickpea, Potato, Garlic,
Inter Cropping
Rabi (Oct-Dec/Apr-Jun) Sugarcane Coriander, Linseed, Lentil, Pea,
Mustard.
Summer/ Zaid (Short Season) Sugarcane Vegetables.
iii. Crop rotation: Sugarcane is generally grown after the harvest of
cotton, rice, maize, toria, potato, wheat, etc. – gap-2/3- years.
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11. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
iv. Gap Filling:
a. Fill the gaps, if any, within 30 days after planting with
sprouted setts.
b. Maintain adequate moisture for 3 weeks for proper
establishment of the sprouted setts.
v. Earthing up/ Hilling Up:
a. 1st Earthing up- “partial earthing-up” – 2nd/3rd – “full earthing-
up".
b. The partial earthing-up is done around 45 days after planting.
c. Full earthing-up is done after 120 days of planting coinciding
with the peak tiller population stage.
d. This operation converts the furrows into ridges and ridges into
furrows. This operation could be done either manually or by
using a bullock-drawn/tractor drawn furrower.
e. After application of 3rd dose of fertilizers around 90
Earthing Up
days, work a victory plough along the ridges for efficient and
economical earthing up.
f. Around 150 days after planting, earthing up may be done with
spade.
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12. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
vi. Control/ Regulation of flowering: Ethephon (ethrel) applied at the rate of 500 ppm
effectively controlled flowering in a number of profuse flowering varieties. By
altering the planting date, flowering can be avoided in heavy flowering areas.
Adsali planting or special season planting (July to September) helps in avoiding
flowering and its adverse effects.
vii. Detrashing: Detrashing refers to removal of unwanted dry and green leaves at the
bottom regular intervals. Sugarcane stalk bears large number of leaves (30-35)
equal to the number of inter-nodes under good management systems. Detrashing
should be taken up after the cane formation around 150 days after planting.
viii. Propping: The operation of tying the top leaves together using the bottom dry and
green leaves is known as propping. It is primarily done to avoid lodging of cane.
Propping can be either done for each row or two rows can be brought together
and tied. It is done around the age of 210 days of the crop.
ix. Removal of water shoots: Water shoots are late formed tillers or side shoots,
which are robust and fast growing. They originate mainly due to excess water
supply, heavy and late manuring, inadequate earthing up. Water shoots contain
lot of water, low sucrose and more of reducing sugars. Therefore removal of water
shoots whenever they appear is highly essential. Water shoots can be used as
cattle feed.
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13. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
Harvesting:
Harvesting in sugarcane is practiced in collaboration with the industry, in most of
the cases, to suit the factory timings. Sucrose content in the plants will reach the
desirable level on the 10th month of the one year crop duration, and they will be
ready for harvest within the next two months
Sugarcane Harvester
•Can harvest up to 40
Ton/Hour of Sugarcane.
•Complete solution to
harvesting which includes
base cutting, De-Topping, De-
Trashing, Cutting to Billets
and loading to trailer
•Capable of handling heavy
lodged canes.
•Self cleaning cooling package
eliminates the need for
Traditional Method
regular stops to remove trash
from the cooling system’s air
intake system.
•Capable of handling tallest
cane with unmatched topper
reach.
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14. Management Practices- Nutrients
Fertilizer Requirement:
Sugarcane – plant crop
275: 62.5: 112.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per ha
Recommended Super Muriate of
N P K Urea
Dose Phosphate Potash
Basal - 62.5 - - 390 -
30-45 90 - 37.5 200 - 62.5
75-90 92.5 - 37.5 205 - 62.5
120-135 DAP 92.5 - 37.5 205 - 62.5
Total 275 62.5 112.5 610 390 187.5
Sugarcane – Ratoon crop
275+ 25% Extra: 62.5: 112.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per ha
Recommended Super Muriate of
N P K Urea
Dose Phosphate Potash
Basal 68.5 62.5 - 148 390 -
30-45 90 - 37.5 200 - 62.5
75-90 92.5 - 37.5 205 - 62.5
120-135 DAP 92.5 - 37.5 205 - 62.5
Total 343.5 62.5 112.5 758 390 187.5
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15. Nutrient Deficiency
ammonium
SSP- 12% S or, Foliar spray of KCl molybdate (54%
Ammonium 1% twice at Mo) and sodium
Sulphate - 24% S fortnight interval molybdate (39%
@ 10-20 Kg/ ha Mo)
Sulphur Deficiency Potassium Deficiency Molybdenum Deficiency
Soil application of
Foliar sprays 3-4 N fertilizer or
Foliar spray of KCl
times of 0.5-1.0% foliar spray of
1% twice at
MnSO4 solution urea 1-2% twice
fortnight interval
(7.5-15 kg/ ha) at weekly
interval.
Manganese Deficiency Potassium Deficiency Nitrogen Deficiency
Soil application of
25kg/ha of FeSO4 or
Soil application of Application of
foliar spray of
MgSo4 25kg/ha 1.5-2.0 kg/ ha of
FeSO4 0.5% on
Boron or borax.
90, 105 and 120 days
after planting.
Magnesium Deficiency Boron Deficiency Iron Deficiency
Spray 0.2%
Soil application of Foliar spray of
copper sulphate
100kg/ha of DAP 2% twice at
solution 2-3
gypsum fortnight interval
times at weekly
intervals
Copper Deficiency Calcium Deficiency Phosphorous Deficiency
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16. Management Practices- Pests
Crop Stage/ Target insect Crop Stage/ Target
Control measures Control measures
Period pest Period insect pest
Seed material should preferably Removal of egg-masses and
Borers, mealy be taken from a healthy crop. No infested shoots from the ground
Selection of
bug and scale seed should be taken from a crop Pre-monsoon Shoot, root level. Copious irrigation and trash
seed crop
insect having pest incidence above 20 (March-June) and top borers mulching. Avoid irrigation at the
per cent peak period of top borer moth
Borers, mealy emergence during summer.
Selection of Borer infested seed setts should
bug and scale Release of Sturmiopsis inferens @
seed pieces not be used for planting
insect 125 gravid females/ha. Spray
Pre-planting Borers, mealy Heat therapy followed by dipping Shoot borer granulosis virus of shoot borer at
(seed bug and scale setts in Aretan/Agallol (0.1% 107 inclusion bodies/ha in 500
treatment ) insect solution.) litres of water/ ha (tropical India).
Rubbing of setts with gunny bag (i.) Soil application of carbofuran 3
Scale insect and
pieces dipped in Malathion (0.1% G@1.0 kg a.i. /ha or phorate
mealy bug
solution.) 10G@ 3 kg a.i./ha against third
Dipping setts in Malathion (0.1%) brood (June last week or July first
Scale insect and Top borer
or Dimethoate (0.06% solution.) week) of the pest. (ii.) Release
mealy bug
for 15 min. of Isotima javensis Rohw against
Two to three extra ploughing to third and fourth broods of top
White grubs expose white grubs for predation borer.
in endemic areas.
Whorl application of Endosulphan
Application of Endosulphan @ 1
Termites and Black bug emulsion @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha or
At planting kg a.i./ha over the cane setts in
shoot borers Endosulphan 5 G@12 kg/ha
1600 to 1800 litres of water
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17. Management Practices- Pest Cont/-
Crop Stage/ Target Crop Stage/ Target
Control measures Control measures
Period insect pest Period insect pest
1. Removal and destruction of two Field release of Trichogramma
lower most leaves bearing egg-masses chilonis adults@ 50,000/ha or 3.5 cc.
Monsoon and
during April/ May 2. Release of 4000- Internode parasitized Corcoran eggs/ha at
Post-monsoon
5000 cocoons and 4 to 5 lakhs eggs borer fortnightly intervals regularly from
(July-January)
Pyrilla of Epiricania melanoleuca per hectare the start of borer activity until a
during July-August. Crop having month before harvest
no Epiricaniapopulation be sprayed Stalk borer,
with Endosulphan or monocroptophos internode
@ 1.0 kg ai per hectare. borer, pyrilla, Detrashing the crop from August
scale insect, through October at monthly intervals
Spraying of the crop with 0.08 percent
Scales and mealy bug,
dimethoate or 1.0 percent Malathion
aphids white flies
after detrashing
Dusting with Malathion spray @ 0.1
1. Collection of adult beetles through
Pyrilla per cent or Endosulfan@1.5 litres
light trap. 2. Picking of grubs manually
per hectare.
from field. 3. Collection and destruction
White grubs Scale insect Malathion spray @ 0.1%.
of adult beetles from host trees
Two sprayings of monocroptophos @
immediately after first heavy summer
0.75 kg a.i./ha at monthly intervals
rains. Stalk borer
during September and October after
Spraying the crop with demecron detrashing dry leaves.
Thrips (0.1%)/ monocroptophos/ dimethoate Harvesting the crop form the ground
(0.04%) Application level. Removal of late and water
Spraying the crop with Kelthane (0.1%)/ At harvest to most of shoots. Burning trash and left over
Mites the pests dry canes. immediately after
chlorfenvin/ monocroptophos (0.4%)
harvesting
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18. Disease Management
Red Rot Grassy Shoot
sett treatment with
Carbendazim before planting
(Carbendazim 50 WP (0.5 Spray dimethoate @ 1ml in 1
gm in 1 litre of water) or litre of water to control
Carbendazim 25 DS (1gm in insect vectors
1 litre of water) along with
Urea (10 gm in 1 litre of
water) for 5 minutes.
C O: Colletotrichum falcatum C O: Browtista moesta (MPO)
Smut Wilt
Dipping the setts in 40 ppm
Sett treatment with of boron or manganese, or
fungicides viz., Triadimefon spraying the plants with
@ 1gm in 1 litre of water or either of these minor
Carbendazim @ 1gm in 1 elements reduces the
litre of water for 10 minutes. disease intensity
C O: Ustilago scitaminea C O: Fusarium sacchari
Rust Leaf Spot
Secondary transmission of the
Spray Tridemorph 1.0 litres
disease by insect vectors can
or Mancozeb 2.0 kg/ha
be controlled by application
of Malathion(0.1%) or
Dimecron(0.2%).
C O: Puccinia erianthi C O:Cercospora longipes
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20. Sesame (Sesamum spp.)
Sesamum are native to sub-Saharan Africa. Sesame Indicum the cultivated type,
originated in India.
Area 1.20 Mha- Production- 275’ 000 tones- Productivity 330 Kg/ ha.
Export- 150’ 000 tones (Shefexil & Traders).
Grown in both Rabi and Kharif Season, North India- Kharif and in South India Rabi
and Kharif.
Sesame Scenario
Due to the presence of
potent antioxidant, sesame
seeds are known as “the
seed of immortality”.
MSP- RS. 4200/ Qtls.
Two distinct types of seed
are recognized, the white
and the black. There are
also intermediate colored
Map Legend:
varieties varying from red to
Potential Areas Max production rose or from brown or grey.
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21. Sesame Plant
Tubular Flower
Fruit/
Capsule
Alternate opposite
Leaves
15-20 Seeds per
capsule Tap Root can go upto 9 mtrs deep
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22. Cultivation Practices
Soil:
Sesame comes up well on soils with slightly acidic or neutral reaction. It can be
grown on well drained soils and performs well in lightly loamy soils.
i. It is highly sensitive to water logging.
ii. Very sandy, saline and alkaline soils are not suitable.
Climate:
i. Sesame is essentially a tropical crop grown in arid and semi-arid areas.
ii. It requires fairly hot conditions during growth for optimum yield.
iii. Ideal optimum temperature for growth is 25-27 degree C.
iv. Extremely low temperatures of 10 degree C, there is a complete ceasing of
growth.
v. High light intensity increase number of Capsules/ plant.
Rainfall:
i. Sesame is capable of with standing a higher degree of water stress.
ii. The crop can be grown entirely on stored soil moisture.
iii. A rainfall of 600-1000mm results in optimum yield
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23. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
Seeds & Seeding:
Seed Rate:
Seed Rate Kg/ ha Rainfed Irrigated
Under Broadcasting 6 5
Row Seeding 5 4
Mixed (or) Intercropping 1
Spacing: 30 X 10 Cm/ or, 45 X 15 Cm.
Seed Treatment: Seed treatment with Thiram (3g/kg) is effective against seed borne
diseases. Seeds may be soaked in 0.025% solution of Agrimycin-100 for 30min. prior
to seeding will minimize bacterial leaf spot.
Methods of Sowing:
i. Broad casting is usually most widely used in all situations. Seed is mixed
with sand in equal quantities (or) 3 times to facilitate uniform distribution
of yield. After sowing, seed is covered by shallow ploughing and planting
by cultivators and harrowers .
ii. Line sowing (or) Row seeding is done with seed drills to promote higher
yields. Optimum depth of sowing is 2-3 cm
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24. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
Manures & Fertilizers:
Seed Rate Kg/ ha Rainfed Irrigated ½ basal
Nitrogen 40 60
½ (30-35 DAS)
Phosphorous 60 60
Potassium 40 40
Application of sulphur@ 50 Kg/ha increases the yield if soils are deficient in sulphur.
Integrated nutrient management consisting of 5 t/ ha of FYM, 40 Kg nitrogen, 20 Kg
Phosphorous and seed treatment with Azospirillum has given encouraging results at
several situations.
Weed Management:
Sesame is sensitive to weed competition during the first 15-25 DAS. A minimum of
two weeding, one after 15 DAS and another 35 DAS are required to keep the field
relatively weed free Row seeded crop facilitates use of blade harrows for
intercultivation. Two intercultivation, 15 DAS and 35 DAS followed by one hand
weeding keeps the field free of weeds.
If necessary, Alachlor (1.0kg/ha) or Thiobencarb (2.0kg/ha) can be used as pre
emergence spray for effective control of weeds. Use of pre emergence herbicides
followed by one hand weeding around 30 DAS is the most appropriate way of weed
management in sesame.
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25. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
Irrigation:
Water requirement is 300-350mm. For Rabi crop 5-6 irrigations are required.
1st irrigation – At sowing
2nd irrigation – 3 WAS
3rd irrigation – 6 WAS
4th irrigation – 8 WAS
5th irrigation – 9 WAS
Harvesting:
Depending on the variety, sesame crop takes 80-150 days for maturity. The
crop is harvested when the leaves, stems and capsules begin to turn yellow
and the lower leaves start shedding. To prevent shedding of seed, the crop
should not become dead ripe in the field. The ripe plants are cut at the ground
level carried to threshing yard, stacked for a week in the sun with the cut ends
upwards.
Inter Cropping: Crop Rotation:
Sesame + Greengram (1:1) Rice / Groundnut – Sesam
Sesame + Pigeonpea (2:1) Sesame – Horse gram – Chickpea
Sesame + Soybean (2:1) Rice / Potato – Sesame
Sesame + Cowpea (8:1) Cotton – Sesame – Wheat
Sesame + Groundnut (1:1) Sesame–Groundnut/Cotton/Maize
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26. Diseases Management
Alternaria leaf spot Phylladoy Disease
Treat the seed with thiram Soil application of
(0.15%) + Bavistin (0.05%) in 1:1 Phorate at the rate of 10
ratio. kg/ha.
Three sprays Topsin M(0.1%) as Three spray of
and when disease appears, at 15 Dimethoate (0.03%) at
days interval 30,40 and 60 days after
sowing.
CO: Alternaria sesami CO: PPLO
Bacterial Blight Powdery Mildew
Steep the seed in Agrimycin-
100 (250 ppm) or Foliar spray (2 to 3) of
Streptocycline suspension wettable sulphur (0.2%) as
(0.05%) for 30 minutes. and when disease appears,
Foliar spray of Streptocycline at 10 days interval.
(500 ppm) as soon as
symptoms are noticed.
CO: X. campestris CO:Oidium sp
Stem & Root Rot
Cercospora Leaf Spot Seed treatment with Thiram
Treat the seed with Thiram 75 SD (0.15%)+Bavistin
(0.15%) + Bavistin (0.05%) in 1:1 (0.05%) 1:1 or Thiram 75 SD
ratio. (0.3%).
Three sprays Topsin M(0.1%) or On appearance of the
Zineb (0.25%) or mancozeb disease, drench soil with
(0.25 %)as and when disease Thiram + Bavistin (1:1) along
appears, at 15 days interval. with diseased plants at 7 days
interval.
CO: C. sesami CO:Rhizoctonia bataticola
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28. Cotton (Gossypium spp.)
Cotton- 7000 B.C Western Pakistan- Gossypium hirsutum→ Mexico 5000 B.C.
India ranks 2nd in cotton production- area 10.2 mha- Productivity 502 kg/ ha-
production- 305’ lakh bale.
Price Sold- Rs. 4377.43 per quintal.
Gujarat has highest productivity with 659 Kg/ ha.
Bt Cotton covers more than 85% of the cotton growing area.
Maturity of the crop takes 80-210 days.
Cotton Scenario
Export Scenario leads to
83 lakh bales in the year
2009-10.
MSP- RS. 3600/ Qtls.
The Cotton industry is the
Map Legend: 30%, 10 of 33 States (Territories) largest agro-based industry,
Highest Productivity as it directly contributes to
Potential Areas textiles, in the country.
Largest Cotton Area
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30. Cultivation Practices
Growing Season:
i. Irrigated (main) Winter Irrigated (Aug- Sep)
ii. Summer Irrigated (Feb- Mar)
iii. Rainfed (Sep- Oct)
Preparation of Field Main/ Irrigated Crop:
i. Prepare the field to get a fine tilth.
ii. Chiselling for soils with hard pen: Chiset the soils having hard pen formation at
shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval, first in one direction and then in
the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years.
iii. Apply 12.5 farm yard manure or composted coir pith/ha besides chiseling to get
increased yield. If intercropping of Greengram/ Soyabean is proposed, prepare the
main field, so as to provide ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days earlier.
iv. Application of FYM or Compost: Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost or 2.5 t of
vermicompost per ha if available, uniformly on the unploughed soil.
v. Application of Biofertilizer: Seed treatment with 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g/ha)
and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophost (1200 g/ha).
In addition apply and 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets (2000
g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) mixed with 25 kg
FYM and 25 kg of soil on the seed line. This save 25% nitrogen.
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31. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
vi. Formation of Ridges and Furrow: Form ridges and furrows 10 m long with
appropriate spacing depending upon the variety (generally 75- 120 cm). Use
ridge plough or bund former to form ridges so as to economic on cost of
cultivation. In fields with ragi stubbles, just dibble cotton seeds at the specified
spacings. Adopt the following spacing between ridges for different
varieties/hybrids.
vii. Application of Inorganic Fertilizer:
60-80-120 N, 30-40-60 P, 30-40-60 K
If basal application could not be done apply the 25th day after sowing.
Apply 50 per cent of N and K full dose of P2O5 as basal and remaining ½ N
and K at 40 – 45 DAS for varieties. For hybrids apply N in three splits viz.,
basal, 45 and 65 DAS. Foliar application of 2% DAP + 1% KCI will improve
yield. Apply the fertilizers in a band, two thirds of the distance from the
top of the ridge, and incorporate.
viii. Application of Micronutrient Mixture: In the case of Zinc deficient soils ZnSO4
@ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray thrice at 45, 60 and 75 DAS. When
reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4 Urea(1.0%) and ZnSO4 (0.10%) as
foliar spray on 50th and 80th day to correct this malady. In Mg deficient areas
apply MgSO4 @ 20 kg/ha basally.
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32. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
Management of Main Field Operation:
i. Seed Rate: 6.50 – 20.0 Kg/ ha
ii. Spacing: 75-120 X 30-60 cm
iii. Seed Hardening: Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%)
for 8 hours and dry back to original moisture to increase germination and
vigour. Dry the seeds in shade.
iv. Seed pelleting: Seeds coated with arappu leaf powder (100 g/kg) along with
DAP (40 g/kg), micronutrient mixture (15 g/kg) and Azospirillum (200 g/kg)
phosphobacteria (200 g/ha) or Azophos (400 g/ha) using 5% maida solution or
gruel as adhesive (300 m/kg) to increase the germination and vigour.
v. Sowing: Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3-5 cm on the side of the ridge 2/3
height from the top and above the band where fertilizers and insecticides are
applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil. In the
case of intercropping, sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired
rows of cotton in a row of 5 cm apart and cover the seeds. Sow the required
number of seeds in each hole. (2-3 seeds per hole).
vi. Weed Management: Apply Pendimethalin @ 3.3 l/ha three days sowing using a
hand operated sprayer fitted with deflecting or fan type nozzle. Sufficient
moisture should be present in the soil at the time of herbicide application. This
will ensure weed free condition upto 40 days. One hand weeding on 45 DAS
will keep weed free environment upto 60 DAS. Hoe and hand weed between
18th to 20th day of sowing, if herbicide is not applied at the time of sowing.
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33. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
vii. Top Dressing: Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N and K on 40 – 45
DAS for varieties. Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40 – 45 DAS
and the remaining 1/3rd on 60 – 65th DAS for hybrids.
viii. Maintain Ridges & Furrows: Reform the ridges and furrows after first top
dressing in such a way that the plants are on the top of the ridges and well
supported by soil.
ix. Arresting Terminal Growth: For varieties having less than 160 days duration nip
the terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15th node (75 to 80 DAS)
and for varieties and hybrids having more than 160 days duration beyond the
20th node (85 – 90 DAS).
x. Irrigation:
Growth Phase Light Soil Heavy Soil
Germination Phase
Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing
1- 15 days
Irrigate on 20th / 21st and
Vegetative Phase Irrigate on 20th / 21st and 35th/
40th days of sowing
16-44 days 36th days of sowing
Flowering Phase 48th, 60th, 72nd, 84thdays of 55th, 70th, 85th days of
45- 90 days sowing sowing
Maturity Phase 91- 108 th, 120th, 132nd, 158th days of 115 th, 130th, 145th, 150th
beyond 100 days sowing days of sowing.
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34. Cultivation Practices Cont/-
xi. Harvesting: Harvest at frequent intervals, at less than 7 days interval. Harvest
in the morning hours upto 10 to 11 a.m only when there is moisture so that
dry leaves and bracts do not stick to the kapas and lower than market value.
Pick kapas from well burst boll only. Remove only the kapas from the bolls and
leaves the bracts on the plants. After kapas is picked, sort out good puffy ones
and keep separately .
xii. Post Harvest Operations: Immediately after picking, dry the kapas in shade. If it
is not dried immediately the colour will change which will lower than market
value. Do not dry the kapas under direct sun as the fibre strength and luster
will be lost. Grade the kapas into good and second quality ones, if it is not
sorted out at the time of picking. Spread a thin layer of dry sand on the ground
and keep the kapas over it.
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35. Pest Management
Associated with ripe seeds, all stages
Insect pest Symptoms of damage Dusky cotton
characterized by a powerful smell,
bug
Sucking pests discoloured lint.
Affected leaves curl downwards, turn yellowish, Foliage feeders
Jassids then to brownish before drying and shedding,
Causes significant loss of leaf area to
"hopper burn" stunts young plants
Semi looper young plants, larvae with looping
Leaf crumpling and downward curling of leaves,
action are seen on plant parts.
Aphids sticky cotton due to deposits of honey dew on open
Leaves are folded and larvae are seen
bolls
in groups amidst fecal materials,
Leaves of seedlings become wrinkled and distorted
Thrips commonly seen on leaves at the
with white shiny patches, Leaf roller
bottom of crop canopy at low
Upward curling of leaves, reduced plant vigour, lint
infestation levels, severe infestation
Whiteflies contamination with honey dew and associated
defoliates the whole plant
fungi
Bollworms Young larvae in groups skeletinise
Spodoptera
Boremark in main shoot, dried and withered away leafworm leaves and older larvae voraciously
Spotted defoliate leaves
shoot, twining of main stem due to axillary
spiny
monopodia, feeding holes in flower buds and bolls Grey weevil Marginal notching - off of leaves
bollworms
blocked by excrement
Pink "Rosetted" bloom, pink larvae inside developing Grass hopper Defoliation of leaves - partial or full
bollworm bolls with interloculi movement
Root / Stem feeder
Stainers
Feed on developing and mature seeds, stain the lint Root damage by grubs kills young
Red cotton
to typical yellow colour, reddish nymphs seen in Stem weevil seedlings, gall like swelling seen on
bug lower stem, wilting of seedlings
aggregations around developing and open bolls
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36. Pest Management Cont/-
Pest Chemicals to be used Dose
Jassids, Aphids, Thrips Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 / 750 ml
Dimethoate 30 EC 500 / 750 ml
Phosphamidon 100 EC 100 / 250 ml
500 / 750 ml
Methyl demeton 25 EC
3.0 / 3.551 +
Neem oil + Teepol
Whiteflies 500 ml
Fish oil resin soap
14 / 15 kg
Phosalone 35 EC
2.5 / 3.0 litres
Spotted, Pink and Endosulfan 35 EC 2.5 / 3.0 litres
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2.5 / 3.0 litres
Quinalphos 25 EC 2.5 / 3.0 litres
Monocrotophos 40 EC 2.5 - 3.0 litres
American bollworms Carbaryl 50 WP 1.5 / 2.5 kg
Fenvalerate 20 EC 400 / 500 ml
Cypermethrin 10 EC 800 / 1000 ml
Decamethrin 2.8 EC 600 / 700 ml
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1.5 / 2.0 litres
Fenvalerate 20 EC 400 / 500 ml
Spodoptera leaf worm
Cypermethrin 10 EC 800 / 1000 ml
Decamethrin 2.8 EC 600 - 700 ml
Aldicarb 10 G 10 kg / ha
Ash weevil
Carbofuran 3 G 30 kg / ha
Drenching stem portion on 1.5 ml / litre
20 th & 35 th day with of water
Stem weevil
Monocrotophos 40 EC 2.0 ml / litre
Phosalone 35 EC of water
Mite Dicofol 25 EC 1.5 / 2.0 litres
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37. Disease Management
Alternaria Leaf Spot Fusarium wilt
Spraying with 0.2 per cent Spray of 0.4% solution of
difolatan (captafol) or oxathilin. OR 0.1% solution
mancozeb at 20 days interval of organomercuria. Seed
from first appearance is treatment with carbendazim
effective in managing the @ 2 g/kg seeds should be
disease given
C O: A. macrospora C O: F. oxysporum
Anthracnose Bacterial blight
Spraying synthetic
Acid delinted and treat the pyrethroids fenvalerate 20
seeds with carbendazim or EC @ 400-500 ml/ha or
benomyl. Spray carbendazim cypermethrin 10 EC or
1.5 g/l; OR benomyl 1.5 g/l; decamethrin 2.8 EC @ 600 -
OR Mancozeb 3g/l 700 ml/ha is also effective.
C O: C. Gossypii C O:X. axonopodis
Cercospora leaf spot Helminthosporium leaf spot
Foliar spray of thiobendazole
or copper oxychloride @ 0.2
Spray mancozeb 2.5 g/l or per cent controls the disease.
copper oxychloride 3g/ litre However, a number of other
4-5 times at 15 days fungicides such as zineb,
interval. ziram and captan are effective
in controlling the secondary
spread of this disease
C O: Cercospora gossypina C O:H. spiciferum
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