COTTON (Gossypium sp.

F:Malvaceae)

Cotton is considered as king of fibre crops/white gold.It is one of the most important fibre
crop playing a key role in economic and social affairs of the world. It is oldest among the
commercial crops (fibre) of the world. Cotton is cultivated in India from Sub Himalayan region
of Punjab in the North to Kerala in South and from dry regions of Kutch to high rainfall areas
of Manipur in East .

Among the cotton growing countries, India occupies the foremost position in cotton acreage.
Cotton constitutes 85% of raw materials of our textile industry, inspite of large quantity of
synthetic fibres (Tereylene, nylon, polyester etc.,) being used in recent years, therefore it is
considered as “backbone of textile industry”. Cotton is grown chiefly for its fibre used in the
manufacture of cloth for the mankind.
Economic importance:
Among the bye products of cotton, cotton seed for seed oil, cotton stalk for paper and fuel
purpose and cotton seed linters for cellulose .Cotton seed which forms about 2/3 of seed cotton is
a valuable byproduct of cotton crop containing 15-25% edible oil depending on varieties.
Refined cotton seed oil is free from the phenolic compound Gossypol, pale yellow in colour and
can be directly used as a cooking medium .
Cotton stalks have been found suitable for preparation of boards, pulp, paper and fuel.
Cotton seed linters are an important cotton seed product next in importance to seed oil and cake.
The amount of linters on the seed after ginning varies from 1-18%.Cotton linters have many end
uses such as in the manufacture of surgical dressings twines, yarn and wicks and also in padding
and felting trade, they are also used by the cellulose based chemical industry. American cotton
contains more percentage of oil.
Cotton seed cake after extraction of oil is a good organic manure and contains about 6% N, 3% P
and 2% K .
Cotton seed, cotton linters and pulp obtained during oil extraction and cotton meal are good
concentrated feed for cattle.
Origin and History: The cultivation of cotton spread from India to Egypt and then to Spain
and Italy. Evidences available proves that India was the original habitat of cotton
• 14 % Contribution to industrial production and 4 % GDP
• Second largest provider of employment, Share in global textile market by about 4 %
Distribution: growing in more than 80 countries, the important cotton growing countries are
India, USA, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, Sudan and USSR. These countries
constitutes nearly 85% of the total production
COTTON SCENARIO OF INDIA: 82% - acreage & 86% - production
• India : Area – I Production – II
Cultivated in 121.9 m ha in 10 states of the country ; 10 major cotton producing states in the
country (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, M.P, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, T.N and U.P.)
CICR(central institute of cotton research )@ Nagpur

Particulars India Karnataka

Area (lakh ha.) 121.91 5.49

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Production (lakh bales) 345.10 12
Productivity (kg/ha) 481 405

Classification of cotton: According to Hutchinson (1947) who classified based on

chromosome number/ploidy
A. Old world or desi / Asiatic / Indian cotton
1. Gossypium arborium (2n=16)
2. Gossypium herbaceum (2n=26) Diploid
B. New world or American cotton
1. Gossypium hirsutum (2n=52)
2. Gossypium barbedance (2n=52) Tetraploid
1. Gossipium arborium: This species widely distributed in India, grows to 1.5 - 2 m height.
Twigs and leaves are pubescent; leaves have 5-7 lobes. The fibre is coarse and short (1.25 -
2.10 cm length) occupies 29% of the area in India.
2. Gossipium hebaceum: Grows 1-1.5 m height. Stem is thick & rigid, leaves & twigs sparsely
hairy, leaves are flat with 3-7 lobes. Seeds with small fuzz & lint. Fibre length 1.25-2.3 cm.
covers 21% area.
3. Gossipium hisutum: Commonly known as American cotton, grows to 1.5 m tall, stem is
green or brown. Leaves & twigs are densely hairy. Leaves are 3-5 lobed. Flowers are creamy
white at opening but later turn pink or red. Fibre length 1.8 - 3.1 cm occupies more or less
50% area.
4. Gossipium barbedance: long stable cotton. Fiber length 3.6-5 cm. The lint is readily
detachable from seed, fine fibre. Flowers are yellow in colour with purple spots. Negligible
area in India.
Classified based on staple/fibre length:
1. Superior long staple cotton- Having mean fibre length more than 27 mm
2. Long staple cotton- Having mean fibre length between 24.5 to 26.9 mm
3. Superior medium staple cotton- Having mean fibre length between 22.0 to 24.4 mm
4. Medium staple cotton- Having mean fibre length between 20.0 to 21.9 mm
5. Short staple cotton- Having mean fibre length less than 19.9 mm
Soil and climatic requirement:
Soil requirement: It can be grown on variety of soil except sandy, saline and water logged soils.
It is grown on sandy loam to clay loam (black cotton soil). It needs a Fertile, good water holding
capacity, good drainage & aeration and cannot with stand excess moisture and water logging.
pH is 5.5-8.5. Black cotton soils are ideal for rainfed crop in peninsular India & Alluvial soils
for rainfed as well as irrigated crop in North India.
Climatic requirement:
It is a warm season crop. Optimum temperature is 21-27 0C for vegetative growth, tolerate high
temperature (430C) but fails if temperature below 21 0C. During fruiting day temperature between
27-320C and cool nights are needed. At fruiting period, heavy rains or irrigation may result in
shedding of flowers and young bolls. Abundant sunshine is required for maturation.
It cannot withstand frost. A frostless season of 180 - 240 days is required for successful crop
production.

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Growth stages:
⮚ 30 DAS: Flower primordial initiation on 1st sympodial branch
⮚ 45 DAS: Young buds or square formation
⮚ 60 DAS: First Flower primordial opening starts
⮚ 70-75 DAS: Maximum flowering
⮚ 125-135 DAS: First boll formation
⮚ 150 DAS: Boll opening
Varieties:
Varieties/ Zone and Crop Time of Special
hybrids situation duration sowing character Yield (q/ha)
( days) s
Irrigated Rainfed

Inter
specific
hybrids
Extra
2, 3, 8, 9 long
Varalaxm May –
Irrigated / 190-200 staple 15 – 20 12 – 15
i 15th July
rainfed (ELS)
cotton
DCH – 32 2, 3, 8, 9 190 May – Extra 15 – 20 12 – 15
Irrigated / 15th July long
rainfed staple
(ELS)
cotton
DHB-105 2, 3, 8, 9 180 May – Long 20 – 25 15 – 18
Irrigated/ 15th July staple
rainfed cotton
and
tolerant to
leaf
reddening
Intra
hirsutum
hybrids
Having
2, 3, 8, better
May –
NHH – 44 Irrigated / 160 regenerati 18 – 20 12 – 15
15th July
rainfed ve
character
DHH – 11 2, 3, 8, 160 May – Bigger 20 – 25 15 – 18
Irrigated / 15th July boll size
rainfed Feb-Mar and good
boll

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 opening.
Average
Suvida 2, 3, 8, May –
boll size
(DHH – Irrigated / 160 15th 20 – 25 15 – 18
good boll
543) rainfed July
opening
Bunny 2, 3, 165 May – Bigger 20 – 25 15 --18
(NCH – Irrigated 15th July boll size
145) and good
boll
opening
Hirsutu
m
varieties
Abadhita 2, 3, 8, 145-160 May – Tolerant 15 – 18
Rainfed 15th July to
bollworm
Round
boll
RAMPBS 2, May – shape,
150 18 – 20
155 Irrigated 15th July Tolerant
to leaf
reddening
2, 3, 8, May – Tolerant
Sahana Irrigated / 140-160 15th July to 18 – 22 15 – 18
rainfed Feb-Mar bollworm
Suitable
for
LRA - 3,
160 Feb-Mar summer 15 – 18
5166 Irrigated
season
also.
Ganesh – 3, 170 Feb-Mar Suitable 18 – 20
(ACP -71 Irrigated for
intercropp
ing with
maize
Gouri – 3, 160 Feb-Mar Suitable 18 – 20
(AH – Irrigated for double
107) cropping
system
RAH – 2, 3, 165 May – 18 – 20
100 Irrigated 15th July
Desi cotton varieties
Jayadhar 2, 3, 8 200 July – Resistant 08 – 12
Rainfed Sept. to pest and

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 diseases.
Suitable
for
intercropp
ing under
rainfed
conditions
Renuka 2, 3, 190 July – 08 – 12
Rainfed Sept
DDHC – 2, 3, 8 180 July – 10 – 12
11 Rainfed Sept
RAHS – 2, 3, 180 July – Suitable 10 – 12
14 Rainfed Sept for saline
soils.
Long
Staple
DLSA – 2, 3, 8 May –15th cotton
150-165 12 – 15
17 Rainfed July with good
boll
opening
Suyodhara 3, rainfed 190 July-Sept Good boll
opening
Variety Season Duration Special character
DHB-105 May-June 180 days Resistant to red leaf and long staple length
DCH-32 May-June 190 days Extra long staple length
NHH-44 May-July 160 days Long staple

DHH-11 May-July 160 days Big bolls long & staple length

UAS Raichur released:

Year of release Varity/Hybrid

2015 SCS-793 (SUJAY),

2016 SHH-818

2017 BGDS-1063

Seed rate and method of sowing :

Method of sowing Seed rate (kg / ha)

Varieties Hybrids
Drill sowing 7.5 – 10 -

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Hand dibbling 5-6 2.5 – 3
Seed treatment: Use delinted seeds for uniform and higher germination. Adopt the following
method for delinting of cotton seeds. Soak 1 kg of cotton seeds in 100 ml commercial grade
Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) for ten minutes. Wash the acid treated seeds with 2% Calcium Chloride
(CaCl2), then with clean water and dry the seeds under sunlight and use for sowing after
recommended seed treatment. It helps in grading the seeds by sorting out damaged, cut,
immature and shriveled seeds. Pathogens present on the seed fuzz are also destroyed by treating
with Conc. H2SO4 .The defuzzed or delinted seeds are easy to sow or dibbled. Such seeds
germinate rapidly.
If seed delinting is not possible by using chemicals then the seeds should be rubbed with a paste
made of cowdung, ash and water, after rubbing the seeds should be dried under shade.
Biofertilizers :Treat the seeds required for one hectare area with 500g Azospirillum and 500g
Phosphorous Solubilising Bacteria (PSB) before sowing which can save 20 kg N and 10 kg P 2O5
/ha.
Treat the seeds with 10 g Imidacloprid 70WS or 5 g Thiomethaxam 70 WS to reduce the
sucking pest incidence up to 35-40 days of sowing.
Land preparation:Cotton being a deep rooted crop requires well prepared seed bed. The land
should be ploughed 15-20 cm deep with MB plough 4-5 times or with country or desi plough.
Harrowing and planking are required to make the soil pulverized and leveled.No stubbles of the
previous crop should be left in the field .
Time of sowing:

Situation for sowing varieties/hybrids Time of sowing

I. Rainfed
a. Herbaceum varieties (Jayadhar/DDHC-11 etc.) July -September
b. Arboreum varieties May – July
c. Hirsutum varieties/hybrids May – 15th July
(Inter specific and Intra hirsutum)
II. Irrigated
a. Hybrids May – 15th July
b. Summer cotton February – March
Planting geometry: Planting geometry can be modified and adopted based on soil type and
fertility.
1. Rainfed situation (For varieties) 60cm x 30 cm or 90cm x 20 cm
2. Irrigated ( For varieties and summer cotton) 75 cm X 30 cm ( Average soils) 90 cm x 30 cm
3. Transitional Zone (Zone-8, Assured rainfall areas for Hybrids)
a. Interspecific hybrids 90 cm x 60 cm
b. Intra hirsutum hybrids 90 cm x 60 cm or 90 cm x 30 cm
Chemical fertilizers:
Varieties: Cotton (Irrigated):80:40:40 NPK kg/ha Cotton(Rainfed):30:15:15 NPK kg /ha
Hybrid( Irrigated): 150:75:75 NPK kg/ha

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 Incorporate organics (FYM/Compost/Crop residues) into the soil 2-3 weeks before sowing.
For rainfed cotton apply entire recommended nutrients as basal at the time of sowing.
Under assured rainfall conditions, apply 50% N, entire dose of P2O5 and K2O as basal at the
time of sowing and top dress remaining 50% N at 60 DAS.
Under irrigated conditions, apply 50 % N & and entire P2O5 & K2O as basal at sowing and
top dress 50 % N at 50, 80 &110 DAS.
Irrigation:
Soil type Crop Irrigation No. of Depth of each Total crop water
duration interval irrigations irrigation requirement (cm)
(cm)

Black soils 180 days 20 days 5 -6 6 cm 80 – 90 cm

Light/red/ 170-180 15 days 8 -10 5 cm 80 – 90 cm

sandy loam soils days

One irrigation after sowing, 2 irrigations before flowering, 4 irrigations after flowering.
Stress at flowering and fruiting results in Shedding of flowers and squares. It will not tolerate
water logging at any stage.
Cotton can be irrigated at 75% depletion of available soil moisture in clay and 50% ASM in
sandy loam soils. Early irrigation is important to have proper plant growth. A mild stress before
flowering is advantageous. After flowering very crucial, deficit results in fruit abscission and
excess leads to excess vegetative growth
Critical stages of irrigation:
Critical Stages of crop growth Days after sowing
Sympodial branching and square formation stage 45 -50
Flowering and fruiting stage 75 – 85
Peak boll formation 95 – 105
Boll development and boll opening stage 115-125
Methods of irrigation: Adopt furrow method of irrigation with following specifications. Adopt
Alternatively Alternate Furrow Irrigation (AAFI) in heavy soils (Vertisols), which saves time,
labour, irrigation water (to the extent of 30%) and minimizes the long term ill effects of
irrigation on soil properties. Drip fertigation is also possible.
Weed management: Keep the plots weed free up to 60 days as the crop growth is slow during
this period and this is the critical crop growth stage for crop weed competition.
Three – four intercultivations at an interval of 15 days after 30 DAS helps in controlling weeds
and acts as dust mulch in conserving the available soil moisture.
In rainfed situations weeds can be managed effectively by 2-3 intercultivations followed by hand
weeding. In transitional and irrigated areas integrated weed management proved effective in
controlling the weeds.
Pre emergent application of Diuron (80%) @ 1.25 kg/ha or Pendimethalin (30 EC) @ 5 lit/ha
in 1000 lits of water, immediately after sowing (with sufficient soil moisture) coupled with one
hand weeding and intercultivation is recommended.
Cotton based cropping systems:
I year II-Year III-Year

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Cotton Groundnut – Rabi Jowar or wheat Cotton
Cotton Green gram – Rabi Jowar or Wheat Cotton
Cotton Soybean – Wheat or Rabi Jowar Cotton
Cotton Maize – Chickpea Cotton
Cotton Sunflower – Chickpea Cotton
In rainfed situations cotton based intercropping and mixed cropping systems are remunerative
and act as insurance against the risk of erratic rainfall.
Under rainfed conditions adopt the following intercropping systems.
1. Cotton + Onion (1: 5) 2. Cotton + Chilli (1: 1) 3. Cotton + Groundnut (1: 3)
4. Cotton + Green gram (1: 3) 5. Cotton + Soybean (1: 3) 6. Cotton + Peas (1: 2)
Under irrigated conditions following inter cropping systems are recommended
1. Cotton + Chilli (1: 1) 2. Cotton + Onion (1: 5) 3. Cotton + Soybean (1: 2)
4. Cotton + Sunnhemp (As green manure) (1: 2)
In black soils of Tungabhadra Project (TBP area)
Cotton + Onion (1: 2) and Cotton + Chilli (1: 1) are recommended.

Harvesting: Harvesting in 3-4 pickings by hand.

Cotton picked from the last two pickings should not be mixed with first picking & gin it and dry.
Ginning is the process of separation of fiber.
Yield: Red soils: 12-15q ha-1 Black cotton soils: 18-20 q ha-1
Physiological disorders in cotton:
1. Boll shedding 2.Leaf reddening 3. Bad opening of boll (boll opening)
2. Excessive vegetative growth
1.Boll shedding
Factors/reasons for boll shedding
• Moisture stress
• Excessive moisture
• Low temperature/cloudy weather
• High temperature
• High wind velocity
• Nutritional imbalance
• Production of ethylene/ABA – cell becomes ageing: There is imbalance between growth
promoter and growth retardant
Control measures:
• Spraying of planofix @ 1 ml/4-5 litre of water (15-20% yield increases)
• Proper application of fertilizers to correct the nutrient supply
• Proper irrigation with drainage
2.Leaf reddening:
• It occurs in some varieties of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense
• Asiatics are not susceptible
• It is not a disease
• It was first noticed in 1960 at Gadag district where Laxmi variety was widely grown
Factors/reasons for leaf reddening
• It occurs during the winter months of November, December and January where the night
temperatures are <10 OC

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 • High wind velocity of > 20 km/hour
• Low temperature
• Deficiency of nutrients especially Nitrogen
Symptoms
• Usually discoloration of upper leaves only because they are exposed to severe cold and
dessicating wind
• Lower leaves are not usually affected unless they are exposed to severe cold
• Discoloration of green leaves starts due to the disintegration of chlorophyll pigment
• The other pigment i.e., Anthocyanin starts synthesizing which is responsible for
reddening of leaves (0.63 mg/g of leaves of chlorophyll in red leaf and 1.28 mg/g of
leaves of chlorophyll in green leaf).
• In severe case it extends to rind of the boll once it turns red it is not removed
Control measures
• Application of Nitrogen as foliar spray @ 5 kg/ha during winter months (3-4 times). This
will be started from middle of November to middle of January at an interval of 15 days.
• Application of 10-15 ml of Cycocel/ha (Growth retardant). This will helps in thickening
of leaves. Hence transpiration of moisture decreases and leaves become short
• Foliar application of Planofix
• Foliar application of B, P and K- This will give resistant
• Spraying of MgSO4 @ 2% (Important constituent of chlorophyll)
• Bhagya is a resistant variety
3.Bad opening of boll: Noticed in Northern part of the country (Tirak disease)
Reasons
• Physiological factors
• Saline conditions
• Moisture stress
• Poor Nitrogen status of the soil, especially noticed in coarse textured soil
• Insect pest problem
Control measures
✔ Application of Nitrogen fertilizers
✔ Proper irrigation with drainage
✔ Adequate plant protection measures
4.Excessive vegetative growth
• In some cases cotton plant grows to a height of 8 feet leads to the imbalance between 2
phases of growth (Vegetative/reproductive)
Measures
• Topping
• Application of Cycocel @ 40 ppm is recommended. This treatment is started based on the
stage of the crop growth

Quality parameters

1.Ginning percentage
2. Colour,
3. Trash,
4. Fibre quality,
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5. Fibre length,
6. Fibre fineness,
7. Fibre strength,
8. Spinning performance,
9. Oil content (14-26%) of the seed

Fibre length : It is the total fibre present in a sample and it is expressed in mm and it decides
spinnability and strength of the yarn .
Bundle strength/ Fibre Strength : It is the tensile strength of a flat bundle of fibres expressed
in pounds per square inch or tenacity (g/tex). It indicates strength of the fibre and inturn strength
of the yarn.
Fibre strength classification :
Descriptive Designation Strength (grams per tex)
Weak 23 & below
Intermediate 24 - 25
Average 26 - 28
Strong 29 - 30
Very Strong 31 & above
Fibre fineness : It is the measure of fibre weight in µg/unit length of fibre. It is assessed by
micronaire instrument and it is expressed as millitex X micronaire value factor 39.37.
Micronaire value : It is an alternate measure of fibre fineness. It is measurement of resistance
to flow of air by fibre . plugs in an instrument called as micronaire. It is calibrated in
micrograms/inch of fibre.
Grade Micronaire value
V. fine <3.0
Fine 3.0-3.9
Average 4.0-4.9
Coarse 5.0-5.9
V. coarse >6.0
Maturity coefficient :It is the ratio of the mature, half mature and immature fibre present in
the sample. It is determined with the help of micronaire instrument . It is an indication of the
extent of mature fibre in a given sample of lint.
Mc= M + 0.6 H + 0.4 I
100
Where Mc- Maturity coefficient , M- Mature fibres, H- Half mature fibres, I- Immature fibres.
Uniformity ratio : It is the ratio of 50% span length to 5% span length and expressed in %. It
obtained from tests on digital fibrograph
Uniformity ratio = 50% span length

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 5% span length

GOT (%)= Weight of lint (gm) X 100

Weight of seed cotton (gm)

Lint index = Weight of 100 seed X GOT

100 - GOT

Seed index = Weight of 100 seeds

Kapas :In commodity market terminology, Kapas is raw, unginned cotton and specifically refers
to the fibrous white seed-covering obtained from the cotton plant. It is a natural fiber that is
commonly-obtained from the Gossypium sp.( cotton) in India
Lint cotton is ginned seed cotton. It has no seed. By removing most of the economically
important lint of a cotton seed, you can see how the hairs are attached to the seed coat.The long
hairs are termed lint and the short ones are called fuzz. Within the seed can be observed the dark
glands that produce the chemical gossypol.

Terminologies used in Cotton production

Bale: A packing of cotton approximately Weighing 170 Kg in a loosely knit fibres of deccan
hemp.
Bolls: Fruits of cotton.
Boll bursting: An advanced stage of boll development, where the boll bursts open and inner
cotton is exposed. A mature boll opens up in the bursting process exposing the locules and cotton
fully.
Bundle Strength : The tensile strength of flat bundle of fibres expressed in pounds per square
inch (PSI) or tenacity (g/tex).
Counts : Linear density expressed as count, which is the number of hanks of 840 yards of yarn
which weigh together 1 1b.
Desi Cotton : Indian cotton species Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium herbaceum.
Desi cotton hybrids : A cross between desi cotton species.
Dibbling : Placing the seed by hand at required depth and at required spacing in an agricultural
land.
Emasculation: Process of removing the male parts from a cotton flower.
Extra long staple cotton: Cotton having its mean fibre length more than 30.00 mm.
Fibre: A seed hair on cotton seed made of cellulose usually having a lumen inside it running
longitudinally.
Fibre Maturity : If a fibre accumulates more cellulose radially reducing the size of lumen, it is
said to be more mature than others.
Fibre Strength: Usually measured as bundle strength.
Fibrograph: An equipment to measure fibre length
Fuzz: cotton fibres of very short length attached to seed coat not separated at ginning.
Gamaticide: A chemical development to kill male parts in a cotton flower.
Ginning : Method of separating the cotton fibres from cotton seed.
Ginning out turn (GOT): Also referred to as ginning percentage. It is percentage of lint out of a
given sample of cotton on weight basis.

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Integrated pest management (IPM) : A system of pest management, where cultural, chemical,
biological, physical methods of pest management are used in integration.
Interspecific hybrid: A hybrid by crossing two species of the same genus.
Intrasepcific hybrid: A hybrid by crossing two varieties of the same species in a genus.
Isolation : A minimum distance prescribed to be maintained between a seed production plot
from a commercial crop of same species / genera.
Kapas : Indian name for cotton.
Lint : A mass of cotton fibres after separation from cotton seed.
Lint Index: Weight of lint in grammes on 100 seeds of cotton.
Long staple: A cotton is classified as long staple cotton if its mean fibre length is between 24. 0-
29.9 mm.
Medium staple:A cotton is classified as medium staple cotton if its mean fibre length is between
20 mm – 23.9 mm.
Micronaire value : An alternate measure of fibre fineness. It is a measurement of resistance to
flow of air by fibre plugs in an instrument called as micronaire, which gives the fibre weight in
micrograms per inch of fibre.
Monopodial: A primary cotton branch which bears the flowers/boll directly on it.
New world cotton: Are cottons introduced to Asia from America.
Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV): A virus developed to attack cotton insects such as
Spodoptera and Helicoverpa.
Old World Cotton: Asiatic cottons also referred to as desi cotton.
Pheromones: A physical trap with a chemically treated tube fixed to metallic frame below which
the insects are collected in a long polyethylene bag.
Seed Index: 100 seed weight of cotton.
Staple length: An approximate measure of mean fibre length by hand stapling (meaning – fibres
are parallelized and randomly distributed and where initial starting point of scanning is
considered as 100 per cent.
Spinning: A process where cotton fibres are rotated around a tension point and the fibres are
twisted end to end to form yarn.
Spinnability: Ability of a cotton fibre of being spun to a particular count.
Square: A young unopened flower bud of cotton.
Sympodial: A cotton branch, where floral parts are borne on secondary shoots rather than
primary shoots.
Yarn: A long spun thread, where the fibres are twisted end to end to form a yarn

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