Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
Overview
Cotton is Pakistan's most important cash crop and the backbone of the textile industry.
Cultivation Information
Climate Requirements
Hot climate with temperature 25-35°C. Requires 180-200 frost-free days.
Soil Requirements
Well-drained sandy loam to clay loam. pH 6.0-8.0. Good water holding capacity.
Planting Season
April to May (Kharif season)
Planting Method
Ridge and furrow method. Plant on ridges with proper spacing.
Seed Rate
8-10 kg/acre
Spacing
75 x 30 cm
Irrigation Requirements
6-8 irrigations. Critical stages: flowering and boll formation.
Fertilizer Requirements
NPK: 100:60:50 kg/hectare. Split nitrogen application.
Harvesting Time
150-180 days
Expected Yield
30-40 maunds/acre
Disease Management
Common Diseases
Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV), Root rot, Bacterial blight, Alternaria leaf spot
Symptoms
Leaf curling, yellowing, stunted growth, rotting of roots
Prevention
Use CLCuV resistant varieties, remove infected plants, control whitefly
Treatment
No cure for CLCuV. For fungal diseases: apply appropriate fungicides
Pest Management
Common Pests
Whitefly, Pink bollworm, American bollworm, Jassids
Pest Control
Bt cotton varieties, IPM, pheromone traps, regular monitoring
Recommended Treatments
Recommended Pesticides
Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Profenofos
Recommended Fungicides
Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Thiophanate methyl
Organic Solutions
Neem-based products, crop rotation, intercropping with trap crops
Additional Information
Best Practices
Use certified Bt cotton seed, proper plant spacing, timely pest control, regular field monitoring
Market Information
Government support price available. Peak marketing: October-December
Storage Tips
Store ginned cotton in moisture-free warehouses. Seed cotton should be dried properly before ginning.