COTTON/ WHITE GOLD

Family Malvaceae
Genus Gossypium
Species Desi cottons: G. arboreum (2n= 26)
G. herbaceum (2n= 26)
American cotton/Upland cotton: G. hirsutum (2n= 52)
Egyptian cotton: G. barbadense (2n= 52)
Geographical Asia and pre-Columbian America
Origin
Economic Textile industry, Medical Sector, Cotton Oil
Importance
AICRP on 1967
Cotton
First Successful H 4 by CT Patel from Gujarat
Hybrid in World
First Varalakshmi (G. hirsutum x G. barbadense) from UAS, Dharwad
interspecific
hybrid in world
Varieties Suvin (Only variety of G.barbadense under cultivation)
Bt cotton variety
PAU Bt 3 (2022) Resistant against spotted
and American bollworms;
average seed cotton yield-
10.2 quintals per acre;
average fibre length- 26.2
mm; ginning out turn - 36.5
%; tolerant to jassid and
cotton leafcurl disease.

PAU Bt 2 (2022) Resistant against spotted and

American bollworms;
average seed cotton yield -
10.0 quintals per acre;
possesses average fibre
length of 27.6 mm and
ginning outturn of 34.4 %;
matures in 160-165 days;
tolerant to jassid and cotton
leaf curl disease.

Non Bt cotton
F 2228 (2015): maturity period- 180 days;
average seed cotton yield-
7.4 quintals per acre.;
moderately resistant to jassid
and bacterial blight.
 LH 2108 Matures in 165-170 days; an
average seed cotton yield of
8.4 quintals per acre.

Cotton North –Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP

Growing Central- MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat
Zones South – Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
GM Cotton Bacillus thuringiensis, soil bacterium- discovered in 1901 by Ishiwata. Bt
cotton - one / more genes from it which enables plants to produce cry
proteins. Cry proteins are effective in killing larvae of bollworms. When
the larvae eats cry proteins, its own digestive system activates the toxic
form of protein. Toxic cry proteins bind to specific receptors present on
intestinal walls and rupture midgut cells.

First Genetically modified Bt cotton carrying cry1Ac gene: Bollgard

Genetically modified Bt cotton carrying cry2Ab gene: Bollgourd II
Roundup Ready Cotton: cp4 epsps gene from Agrobacterium enables
the plant to produce glyphosate tolerant CP4 EPSPS enzyme which
ensures continued function of aromatic amino acid pathway
Advent of Bt cotton cultivation in India : 2002 with 3 hybrids: MECH 12
Bt, MECH 162 Bt and MECH 184 Bt by Mahyco and Bollgard I by
Monsanto
2004: RCH 2 by Rasi seeds
Institutes Central Institute for cotton research, Nagpur
Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology- Mumbai
Plant Growth and development is divided into 4 stages: Germination and
seedling establishment, leaf area and canopy development, flowering
and boll development and boll maturation

Root: Tap root, depth 1.8 m or more

Shoot and branch development: Primary axis is erect and branched
In Hirsutum, first fruiting branch developed on 5-7th main node while in
barbadense , on 8-9th node
Branches: Monopodial/Vegetative : Exact replica of main stem and
Reproductive/ Sympodial: Fruiting branches result from transformation
of vegetative meristems into flower primordial
Flower bud: Square
Fruit: Boll
Climate and Semi-xerophyte, warm season woody shrub; Temperature: Daily
soil minimum temperature of 16°C for germination; 21-27°C for proper
growth. During fruiting, day temperature ranges from 27-32°C and cool
nights; During picking bright sunny days are required ;
Deep friable soil is preferred
Rotation Cotton-Wheat; Cotton-barley, Cotton-sunflower. Cotton-berseem,
Cotton-raya
Sub-Soiling 1 in 3 years; Cross subsoiler at 1 m spacing before field prep is done by
sub soiler to the depth of 45-50 cm
Advantages: Break the hard pan, increase the infiltration rate and better
root development
Land Fine seed bed is needed
Preparation
Time of 1 April – 15 May in morning and evening hours
Sowing
Seed Rate Cultivars Seed rate in kg/acre
 Bt varieties PAU Bt 1, PAU Bt 2 4 + 1 (refuge)*
and PAU Bt 3
Bt hybrids Recommended 0.900+0.240
hybrids (refuge)* or two
pouches of 475 g
each**
Non-Bt varieties F 2228 and LH 2108 3.5
* Grow not bt cotton as refuge to avoid evolution of bollworm resistance
* * Already mixed refuge in seed

hirsutum- 12-15 kg/ha ; arboreum and herbaceum- 8 to 12 kg/ha

Acid Delinting  Mix 100 g commercial grade concentrated sulphuric acid with 1
kg kg/ha cotton seed in earthen/ plastic container by stirring it
vigorously for two to three minutes with a thick wooden stick.
 As soon as the fuzz gets dissolved, add 10 litres of water, stir well
and drain out water through the perforated plastic basket.
 Repeat these washings three times to make the seed free from
sulphuric acid residue.
 Dip the washed seed for about one minute in sodium
bicarbonate solution (12.5 g sodium bicarbonatein 2.5 litres of
water) to neutralize the acid residue on the cotton seed.
 Give one more washing with water and remove light, damaged
and rotten inviable seeds floating on the surface.
 Dry the healthy fuzz-free seed in the shade by spreading in a
thin layer. Adopt following precautions:
• Metal or wood container should not be used.
• The operator should wear the plastic gloves.
• The water containing acid and alkali residue should be
properly disposed off in the waste land.
• Inadequate washing and delayed washing of the seed after
acid treatment and residualacid on the seed if not
neutralized may impair the germination of seed.
• Or rub the non-delinted seed with fine earth, cow-dung
or ash to remove its fuzz and ensure uniform sowing.

Seed Priming  Soak the seed in a solution of 0.5 g succinic acid and 5 litres
of water for 2-4 hours in case of acid delinted seed or 6-8
hours in case of non-delinted seed to promote good
establishment of plant stand, better early growth and more
yield.
 In soils irrigated with sodic water (RSC > 2.5 meq per L),
treat the seed with the liquid bioformulations (Halo-
Azo+PSB+ZnSB)* along with gypsum (25% of Gypsum
Requirement) application. The liquid bioformulations are
 available at ICAR-CSSRI, Regional Research Station, Lucknow
at a nominal price.
 Seed should be smeared with 5 g Gaucho 70 WS
(imidacloprid) or 7 g Cruiser 30FS (thiomethoxam) per kg
seed for preventing damage by cotton jassid.

Spacing  Generally Bt hybrids: 67.5 cm by 75 cm

 Thinning may be done after first irrigation or heavy shower
 Non-Bt varieties within rows be kept 60 cm apart during thinning,
whereas for PAU Bt 2 and PAU Bt 3, plant to plant spacing within
row be kept 30 cm apartafter thinning
 Desi cotton: 67.5 cm by 45 cm
Refugia  20 per cent area should be sown under non-Bt cotton
sowing hybrids around Bt cotton.
 The refuge should be non-Bt version of the same
variety/hybrid. If it is not possible, the farmers can use non-
Bt varieties like F 2228 and LH 2108 as refuge.
Intercropping  Cotton + maize/cowpea for fodder, one row of fodder crop in
cotton sown at rowto row spacing of 67.5 cm
 Apply recommended fertilizers to cotton and intercrops on area
basis.
 Harvest maize/cowpea fodder at 45-55 days after sowing.
Transplanting  For gap filling, 3 week old nursery grown in 4”x6”polythene bags,
filled with 1:1 mixture of soil and FYM, can be transplanted.
Weed Control  Hoe the crop two or three times. The first hoeing -before
first irrigation by tractor mounted cultivator/ tractor
operated rotary weeder/wheel hand hoe for weeding. Their
use after fruiting should be avoided
 For itsit, madhana/makra, apply 1.0 litre per acre Stomp 30
EC (pendimethalin) as PE within 24 hours of sowing; where
weeds emerge after first irrigation or with the rain shower,
Stomp 30 EC can also be applied as POEM after first irrigation
in 200 litre of water.
 If some weeds emerge before the application of the
herbicide, a light hoeing/interculture may be done. The
herbicide can also be sprayed with tractor mounted sprayer
fitted with flat fan nozzle either in morning or evening
hours. Ensure a fine seed bed free from plant residues and
clods, adequate moisture in the field at the time of spray of
herbicides.
 Alternatively, spray 500 ml per acre Hitweed Maxx 10 MEC
(pyrithiobac sodium 6%+quizalofop ethyl 4%) by dissolving in
150 litres of water after first irrigation, in moist soil, to
 control annual grass and broadleaf weeds. This herbicide
also provides effective control of lapeta (guara) vel (Ipomoea
sp.) when weed plants are at 2 to 5 leaf stage.
 Alternatively, at 6-8 weeks after sowing when the crop is
about 40-45 cm in height, spray 500 ml per acre
Gramoxone 24 SL (paraquat) or 900 ml per acre Sweep
Power 13.5 SL (glufosinate ammonium) in 100 litres of water
as a directed spray to control weeds in between the crop
rows. The directed spray can be done by using a protective
hood. Paraquat and glufosinate are non-selective herbicides
and can cause injury to the crop if these fall on the crop
leaves.

Fertilizer  Apply fertilizer on soil test basis (See Chapter on ‘Soil Testing’).
Application:  for medium fertility soils:

*Nutrients (kg per acre) Fertilizers (kg per acre)

N P2 Ure DAP or Single Superphosphate

O5 a

Non-Bt varieties 30 12 65 27 75

Bt varieties 37 12 80 27 75

Bt hybrids 42 12 90 27 75

• Omit application of phosphorus to cotton when it follows

wheat which had received recommended dose of
phosphorus. Where 27 kg DAP is used, reduce the urea dose
by 10 kg.
• Apply 20 kg muriate of potash and 10 kg zinc sulphate
heptahydrate (21%) or 6.5 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate
(33%) per acre to cotton in light soils.
• Drill all phosphorus at sowing.
• Apply 25 kg magnesium sulphate as basal dose at the time
of sowing.
• Apply half nitrogen at thinning and remaining half at the
appearance of flowers. If the soil is low in fertility, the first
half dose of nitrogen may be applied at sowing instead of at
thinning.
• Apply 400 g boron (4 kg borax) per acre at sowing to boron
deficient (<0.5 kg available boron per acre) calcareous soils
having 2% or more calcium carbonate. However, boron
should not be applied indiscriminately, as excessive boron
 application may cause toxicity.
• To get higher yields, give 4 sprays of 2% potassium nitrate
(13:0:45) at weekly interval starting at flower initiation. For
high yield and management of leaf reddening in Bt cotton,
give 2 sprays of 1% magnesium sulphate (1 kg magnesium
sulphate in 100 litres of water per acre) at 15 days interval
during full bloom and boll development stages.

Growth  2 sprays of 300 ml per acre Chamatkar (mepiquat chloride

Retardant 5%w/w) at 60 and 75 days after sowing using 80-100 litres of
Application
water to check excessive vegetative growth is applied in
heavy soil as thick crop canopy prevents the penetration of
sunlight which results in shedding of flower buds, flowers or
bolls and ultimately causes yield reduction.
Irrigation and  4-6 irrigations are needed depending upon the seasonal
Drainage rainfall.
 The first irrigation should be given 4 to 6 weeks after sowing
and the subsequent ones at interval of two or three weeks.
 However on light soils or in crop sown on ridges, the first
irrigation may be advanced, if necessary.
 Under poor quality irrigation water conditions, give pre-
sowing irrigation with canal water and subsequent irrigations
can be applied with poor quality tube well water in alternate
furrows. In soils irrigated with saline water (EC upto 10
dS/m), application of 16 quintal per acre of rice-residue
biochar reduces adverse affect of salinity and increases seed
cotton yield.
 The crop must not be allowed to suffer from water stress
during the flowering and fruiting stages, otherwise a lot of
shedding of flowers and bolls will take place resulting in low
yield. Cotton during its early growth is very sensitive to
water stagnation. Therefore, drain out the stagnant water if
such a situation arises.
 To hasten boll opening, give the last irrigation by the end of
September.
 To minimize loss of cotton yield owing to water stress (due to
no rainfall or sudden canal closures), dissolve 12.5 g Salicylic
acid in 375 ml of Ethyl alcohol and then add it to 125 litres
of water for spraying crop per acre on stress appearance.
 Caution: Application under well watered conditions may not
increase yield.
Drip irrigation and Fertigation
American Bt cotton hybrids should be drip irrigated at 7 days
interval with a lateral pipe laid at 67.5 cm apart and dripper
placed at 75 cm apart having dripper discharge of 2.2 litre per
hour as per the following schedule. Start fertigation of 100 kg
urea (45 kg N) /acre at 35 days after sowing and complete in
110-120 days in 10 equal splits at 7 days interval.
Month Time of irrigation (min)*
May/June 50
July 45
August 40
September 35
If discharge rate is different, then time of irrigation may be
adjusted proportionally by
the formula:-
Adjusted time (min) = (2.2 × Time of irrigation (min)*) ÷ Discharge of
dripper (litre/hour)
Under scarcity of good quality irrigation water, alternate use
of good quality canal water and saline tubewell water through
surface drip irrigation is recommended in light-textured soil for
obtaining sustainable seed cotton yield with a minimal adverse
effect on soil quality.

Quality 1. Ginning percent: Ratio of lint to seed cotton 28-38 percent for
Parameters barbadense; 33-38 for hirsutum and 36-42 for desi types, After
ginning lint is expressed as bales. Std wt of bale is 170 kg
2. Colour: White
3. Trash: lowers the quality; leaf bits, broken seed etc in lint
constitute trash
4. Fibre quality is determined by : 4.1- Length Staple length is the
arithmetic means of the length of all fibres present in sample of
cotton.
Category Staple length in mm
Short < or equal to 20 mm
Medium 20.5 – 24.5 mm
Medium long 25-27 mm
Long 27-32 mm
Extra long >equal to 32.5 mm
4.2. Fineness : Based on micronaire values
Category Staple length in mm
Very Fine <3
Fine 3-3.9
 Average 4-4.9
Coarse 5-5.9
Very Coarse >6
4.3. Strength: load reqd to break a fibre; measured in g per
tex
4.4. Spinning performance: Measured by number of counts
4.5. Oil content: Generally 14.6 – 25.6 percent Major
problem is presence of toxic pigments like gossypol, gossy
purpurin and gossypulvin
Important  Grow only recommended varieties/hybrids of cotton.
Points • Heavy pre-sowing irrigation is must for good germination and
early establishment of plants.
• Complete the sowing by 15 May.
• Grow non-Bt cotton as refuge on the periphery of Bt cotton.
• Give first irrigation 4-6 weeks after sowing depending on soil
type. Last irrigation in September is must.
• Avoid growing bhindi, moong, arhar, castor and dhaincha in and
around the cotton fields to avoid simultaneous build up and spread
of pests and diseases to cotton.
• Give 4 sprays of 2% potassium nitrate (13:0:45) solution starting
at flower initiation at weekly interval.
• The incidence of insect pests increases with excessive use of
nitrogenous fertilizers, hence use only recommended dose.
• Regular monitoring is effective strategy for the management
of whitefly, pink bollworm and mealybug. Avoid using
synthetic pyrethroids before September 15 to minimize
resurgence of whitefly. Use recommended insecticides.
• Avoid tank mixing and use of readymade insecticidal mixtures.

Insecticides for the management of sucking insect pests

Brand (Insecticides) Dose/acre

Whitefly
Osheen 20 SG (dinotefuran) 60 g
Polo/Craze/ Ruby/ Ludo/Shoku 50 WP (diafenthiuron) 200 g
# Oberon/ Voltage 22.9 SC (spiromesifen) 200 ml
Ulala 50 WG (flonicamid) 80 g
Nimbecidine or Achook (Neem based biopesticide) 1.0 litre
*PAU Homemade neem extract 1200 ml
Jassid
(a) Seed treatment: At the time of sowing, smear the seed with any of the
following insecticides.
 Gaucho 70 WS (imidacloprid) 5 g/kg seed
Cruiser 30 FS (thiamethoxam) 7 g/kg seed
(b) Spray: Spray any of the following insecticides, if incidence is noticed in
standing crop.
Osheen 20 SG (dinotefuran) 60 g
Ulala 50 WG (flonicamid) 80 g
Actara/Extra super/Dotara/Thomson 25 WG (thiamethoxam) 40 g
Thrips
Delegate 11.7 SC (spinetoram) 170 ml
Curacron/ Celcron 50 EC (profenophos) 500 ml
Polo 50 WP (diafenthiuron) 200 g

* Method of preparation: Boil 4.0 kg terminal parts of the shoots of neem trees
including leaves, green branches and fruits in 10 liters of water for 30 minutes.
Then filter this material through muslin cloth and use the filterate for spraying
at the recommended dose.

Note: In the beginning of crop season on appearance of whitefly, first spray of

Nimbecidine or Achook @ 1.0 lire per acre should be given.

• Do not spray any insecticide for the management of thrips on cotton up to 30 day
old crop. In case thrips attack observed, irrigate the field immediately.
• In case of attack of aphid use the same insecticides as recommended for jassid.
• Use fix type solid cone nozzle. Thorough coverage of plants with insecticides
is essential tocheck the multiplication of whitefly and mealybug.
• Spray insecticides before 12 PM or in the evening. Community approach should
be adopted at village level for the application of insecticides
• Use only recommended insecticides with recommended dose and time. Avoid
tank mixing anduse of readymade insecticidal mixtures
• Mealybug is initially restricted to a few plants in a row, thus spot treatment
with recommended insecticide i.e. Transform 21.8 SC 150 ml per acre is
advocated.
Insect Pests (Non-Bt cotton)
.
Table 2. Insecticides for the control of bollworms in cotton

Brands (Insecticides) Dose/acr

e
Pink and spotted bollworms
A. Synthetic Pyrethroids
Danitol/Meothrin 10 EC (fenpropathrin) 300 ml
Fastac/Alphagaurd/Merit Alpha 10 EC (alphamethrin) 100 ml
 Decis/Rukrain/Decicare 2.8 EC (deltamethrin) 160 ml
Sumicidin/Fenval/Agrofen/Fenlik/Triumph card/SB 100 ml
Fenvalerate/Milfen/Markfenval 20 EC (fenvalerate)
Pink, spotted and younger larvae of American bollworm
A. Macrocyclic lactones or evermectins
Proclaim 5 SG (emamectin benzoate) 100 g
B. Carbamates
Larvin 75 WP (thiodicarb) 250 g
C. Organophosphatic
Curacron/Carina/Profex/Celcron 50 EC (profenophos) 500 ml
Fosmite/E-mite/Volthion 50 EC (ethion) 800 ml
D. Miscellaneous group
Fame 480 SC (flubendiamide*) 40 ml
Grown up larvae of American bollworm
A. Naturalyte
Tracer 48 SC (spinosad) 60 ml
B. Oxadiazine
Avaunt 15 SC/ Avaunt 15 EC (indoxacarb) 200 ml

C. Miscellaneous group
Coragen 18.5 SC* (chlorantraniliprole) 60 ml
D. Organophosphates
Coroban/Dursban/Durmet/Chlorgaurd/Radar/Lethal/Force/Markpyri 2 litres
phos 20 EC (chlorpyriphos)
Orthene/Asataf/Starthene/Markphate 75 SP (acephate) 800 g
Tobacco caterpillar
A. Insect Growth Regulator
Rimon 10 EC* (novaluron) 150 ml
B. Miscellaneous group
Coragen 18.5 SC* (chlorantraniliprole) 60 ml
Note:

• Do not repeat the insecticide of same group in subsequent sprays.

• Do not use synthetic pyrethroids on cotton for the control of bollworm complex
before September.
• Repeat the spray immediately if it rains with in 24 hours after spray.
• If hairy caterpillars damage cotton crop during June-July use 500 ml quinalphos
25 EC in 100 litres of water per acre.
- Cotton is highly sensitive to the 2, 4-D herbicide.
- After using 2, 4-D on any crop, fill all spraying equipment as well as tubs, buckets,
etc. with 0.5 per cent washing soda solution (500 g of washing soda in
100 litres of water) in the evening. Next morning, flush all equipments
thoroughly with fresh water. To avoid the use of contaminated insecticides
on cotton. It is advisable to test insecticide at least two weeks in advance
 on a few plants. If the insecticide is contaminated with 2, 4-D the tender
leaves and shoots could become distorted and lanceolated within 10 days.
Reject such an insecticide

Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) Strategy

• IRM is component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme. The
adoptionof this strategy helps in reducing/delaying the insecticide resistance to
insects. It also increases functional life of the insecticides.
i. Sucking pests management (From sowing up to first week of July)
• Sow recommended varieties which are tolerant to sucking pests and cotton leaf
curl virusto avoid early sprays
• Destroy alternate hosts of cotton whitefly, leaf curl virus and mealybug
• Timely sowing, judicious use of fertilizers, irrigation, proper spacing and clean
cultivationwill prevent the early build up of pests and help conserve natural
enemies
• Treat seed with Gaucho/Cruiser to control the cotton jassid in susceptible cultivars
• Do not use any insecticide during this period to conserve natural enemies
ii. Sucking pests and bollworms management (From second week of July to first
week of August)

• Avoid the use of synthetic pyrethroids for the control of spotted bollworms
• Avoid the use of neonicotinoid compounds against jassid as these are toxic to
naturalenemies
• Do not use organophosphates/carbamates against bollworms
iii. Bollworms and tobacco caterpillar management (From second week of Augustto end
August)
• Use profenophos/quinalphos/flubendiamide in alternation with synthetic pyrethroids for
the
control of bollworms
• Use spinosad only in case of severe infestation of American bollworm.
iv. Bollworms and tobacco caterpillar management (September to October)
• Use profenophos/quinalphos/thiodicarb/flubendiamide for younger larvae of
American bollworm. Prefer chlorpyriphos for grown up larvae. Chlorpyriphos,
thiodicarb and quinalphos will also provide effective control of tobacco
caterpillar
• Use of indoxacarb/spinosad in case the American bollworm is serious
• Use ethion for the management of whitefly. It will also provide effective control of pink
and
spotted bollworms
A. Diseases
Leaf curl: Disease is caused by whitefly transmitted virus. The diseased plants
become stunted and have twisted internodes. Leaves remain small, show cupping
and curling. Veins on the lower-side of the leaves become thickened with netted
appearance.
Avoid growing American cotton in and around citrus orchards and adjoining
bhindi crop.
• Uproot and destroy the diseased plants from time to time.
• Protect the crop against whitefly vector by using recommended insecticides.
• Follow clean cultivation and destroy Kanghi buti (Abutilon sp.) and Peeli buti
(Sida sp.)which act as collateral hosts.
Parawilt: It generally occurs after droughts when the crop is heavily irrigated or
there is heavy rain. Plants show sudden drooping of leaves which ultimately get
wilted but the root system remains intact.
The affected plants can be saved by spraying cobalt chloride @ 10 mg per litre
of water (10 ppm) immediately after the appearance of symptoms. There would be
no recovery if permanent wilting has already set in.
Tirak: It is a physiological disorder. It is characterized by the yellowing and
reddening of leaves, followed by the bad opening of the bolls. It is particularly
serious in pockets where cotton suffers from persistent drought, inadequate water
supply, nutrient deficiency on light sandy soils, too early sowing or lack of plant
protection measures. These factors may operate singly or in different
combinations. Spells of high temperature prevailing during the flowering and
fruiting further aggravate the intensity of this malady. Judicious fertilization and
timely watering particularly during flowering and fruiting stages, and the adoption
of recommended plant protection schedule help to mitigate the intensity of this
disease.
Defoliation in cotton: Chemical defoliation with single spray of Ethrel 39%
(Ethephon 39%) @ 5.0 ml/litre of water should be applied in last week of October.
It leads to 85-90% defoliation after seven days of spray. Defoliation allows better
sunlight penetration thereby resulting in early and uniform boll opening with
increased productivity.
Picking: Cotton should be picked clean and dry to get a good price in the
market. Picking should be done after every 15-20 days to avoid loss because of the
Kapas falling to the ground. Do not keep the picked cotton in wet water channels in
the field, as this practice impairs the quality of cotton. Store kapas in a dry godown.
Keep produce of different varieties separately.
Removal of cotton sticks: Soon after the last picking, remove the cotton sticks
alongwith the roots from the field and bury the remaining plant debris with furrow
turning plough as sanitary measure against pests and diseases. Use or burn cotton
sticks by the end of February at the latest.
Use two-row tractor operated Cotton Stalk Uprooter for uprooting of cotton
stalks. The Cotton Stalk Uprooter should be operated at a speed of 7 to 9 km/hr and
at a depth of 12 to 15 cm with 45hp tractor for efficient field operation. This
equipment will provide 10 to 15% more cotton sticks by weight than conventional
manual stalk chopping method with a fieldcapacity of 1.25 to 1.50 acre/hr.
Marketing Hints
• Cotton should be picked dry, free from trash, with no dew on it.
• The first and the last pickings are usually of low quality and should not be
mixed with rest of the produce. High-grade kapas mixed with low grade kapas
 sells at a relativelylow price.
• Store cotton in damp proof and rat-free room.
• Store different varieties separately.