Farmers advised to protect cotton from heat stress

Cotton growers have been advised to adopt integrated crop management practices to protect plants from severe heat stress during the critical flowering and boll formation stages.

Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan Director Sabahat Hussain said on Sunday that prolonged hot and dry conditions increase the risk of flower and boll shedding, making timely irrigation and nutrient management essential for sustaining crop health and yield.

She cautioned farmers against allowing water stagnation in fields, noting that standing water heats up quickly in high temperatures, damaging the root system and adversely affecting plant growth. Excess irrigation water, she stressed, should be promptly drained.

The expert recommended light irrigation every three to five days during the flowering and boll formation stages to maintain optimum soil moisture.

She advised farmers to irrigate during early morning or late evening hours to reduce evaporation losses and minimise heat stress on the crop.

On nutrient management, she suggested a foliar spray solution comprising 200 grams of potassium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate, borax and urea mixed in 125 litres of water per acre, to be applied during cooler hours. The spray should be repeated after 15 days for better results, she added.