‘Cotton crop undergoing healthy fruit stage’
PHOTO: FILE
Cotton crop is undergoing a healthy fruit stage under favorable weather conditions with formation of fruit, buds and bolls in full swing, and farmers must not keep crop deficient in water and fertilisers at this stage.
This was stated by Muhammad Shahid, director of Agriculture of Sargodha, on Thursday.
He said the cotton experts had finalised recommendations for the next 15 days for cotton crop management applicable until August 31.
Muhammad Shahid said that in case of rains farmer should not let water standing and drain it out to avoid chances of plant wilting.
Virus affected crop should get water and fertilisers in suitable quantity to lessen disease impact.
Water and fertilisers be also applied in case of low or no growth.
If crop witnesses vegetative growth with low fruit bearing, then farmers should apply some suitable growth retardant after consulting agriculture officials.
Farmers should perform hoeing to remove weeds.
He further said that steps to remove weeds and application of pesticides should be completed before rain.
In case of crop at maturity stage, farmers should perform picking before rain.
Quality of fiber and seed from bolls affected by rain was usually compromised, the experts said and advised farmers not to keep seed from such bolls for sowing.
Seed from bolls hit by pink boll worm or dusky cotton bug should also be avoided for sowing.
Cotton picking should first target healthy and open bolls and then Phutti be exposed before sunlight to reduce moisture.
Crop bearing fruit in good number must not remain deficient in nitrogenous fertilisers.
The director of agriculture further said that to trigger more fruit, farmers should apply spray of 250gm of zinc sulphate, 300gm of magnesium sulphate and 150gm of Borex in 100 litres of water per acre.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2023.