Excessive vegetative growth in cotton crops occurs on a large scale in irrigated areas, particularly in heavy soils, due to over-application of chemical fertilizers and excess water to hybrid varieties. As a result, the rate of boll formation decreases, and there is a risk of branches breaking under the weight of the bolls.
As a remedy for controlling vegetative growth, the top shoot of the main branch of the plant should be nipped (topped) when the cotton crop reaches 80 to 90 days of age. This keeps the vegetative growth of the crop limited and ensures good growth of all bolls. Additionally, it maintains air circulation within the crop, prevents boll rot, and reduces the incidence of pests and diseases.
Reasons for the dropping of squares, flowers, and bolls in cotton: Due to climate change, cotton crops suffer from the dropping of squares (buds), flowers, and bolls caused by pests and diseases, which leads to a significant decrease in yield.
Remedial measures: Two sprays of growth regulator called NAA (Plano-fix) should be undertaken at a rate of 100 ml per hectare mixed in 500 liters of water. This increases crop yield by 10 percent.
Causes of Reddening (Lalya) in Cotton Crop:
Deficiency of nitrogen and magnesium in the soil.
Infestation of sucking pests like jassids.
Utilization of nitrogen from leaf chlorophyll during the boll development stage, which turns the cotton leaves red.
Control Measures and Solutions:
Apply recommended fertilizers on time.
For Bt cotton varieties, apply 25% more fertilizer than the standard recommended dose (20% nitrogen at the time of planting, 40% nitrogen after 30 days, and 40% nitrogen after 60 days).
Apply 20 to 30 kg of magnesium sulfate per hectare into the soil.
Spray 2% DAP fertilizer twice at an interval of 15 days during the growth period.
Author: Dr. Kalyan devlaanakar
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