Step By Step Guide Of Cotton Cultivation

Cotton Cultivation is an agricultural practice that involves growing cotton plants. Textile industries manufacture a large number of clothing products from cotton for almost every season.

Cotton’s natural properties, such as softness and comfort, make it the primary choice for textile industries. For successful cotton cultivation, it is mandatory to grow in its preferred climate and soil type.

A cotton crop, also known as the Kharif crop, is grown during the monsoon season and requires a warm environment.

How to Prepare Soil Preparation For Cotton Cultivation

In Cotton Cultivation, it is essential to select the type of soil that is most suitable for cotton plants to grow. Then, a few actions need to be performed on the soil to make it ready for cultivation.

Requirments	Discription
Soil Type	Cotton is mainly grown in soil with a high amount of clay and resilient properties that eliminate moisture from the soil. Cotton is best grown in Loamy and black soil.
Ph Value	Growing a high-yield plant requires extra care, such as regularly determining the soil’s pH value. Too much acidic or alkaline soil can damage the plant. The best pH value of cotton ranges between 5 and 8.
Clearing Field	Clearing unwanted plants from the field will help cotton plants establish deep roots and produce high yields. Plants such as debris and weeds soak most nutrients from the soil, leaving cotton to suffer from growth and sometimes causing damage due to the transfer of pests and diseases.
Ploughing	Improve the airflow in soil structure by ploughing at least 40 cm deep 2 times to break the soil clumps. The ploughing process will help the soil to attain a high fertility rate when manure is added.
Harrowing	After ploughing, harrowing is done to refine the soil further for better air circulation.
Adding Organic Manure	The addition of organic manure to the soil is essential to boost its fertility rate. An Average of 10 to 15 tons is required for 1 hectare of field.
Soil Tempurature	Soil temperature is an essential factor for seeds to germinate. The required soil temperature ranges between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, a seed can germinate within a week.
Adding Microorganism in seeds	Nitrogen levels in soil can be increased by adding microorganisms such as azospirillium and phosphobacteria. Adding nitrogen can help seeds to adopt healthy growth and produce a high yield.

Planting Of Cotton Seeds (Season, Spacing, Sowing Method)

After the soil preparation, we will now discuss some crucial factors that need to be considered for the successful growth of the plants.

• Timing:- Cotton seed planting should be done when the soil temperature below 4 inches reaches 15 degrees Celsius. Germination may occur in this temperature range, but noticeable growth will happen when the temperature rises and crosses 18 degrees Celsius. Cotton seeds are generally planted between April and May, but locals must monitor the weather conditions before planting.
• Recommend Spacing:-

Traditional Spacing Method	Modern Spacing Method
In the early traditional methods, the hill rows in which cotton seeds were planted were kept 3 feet apart to facilitate machinery access and allow room for plant growth. However, it is recommended to keep the distance around 18 inches to obtain more rows, which will provide extra rows for more plants.	In the current cotton farming practice, farmers have adopted a method of keeping the row distance at 15 inches, which has potentially increased crop density and yield.

• Sowing Method:- Several kinds of sowing methods can be used in cotton plantations; each method has its benefits according to the climate, region, and soil condition.This method of commonly used at a large scale of land.

Method Type	Application	Benefits
Seed Drilling Method	The seed drilling method involves sowing a seed with a seed drill into the soil at a uniform space and depth to get enough space for better growth.	Even placement of seeds, enhance germination and reduce labour cost.
Dibbling Method	In the dibbling method, seeds are planted at a specific depth in the soil with a dibble stick.	Control on planting depth & spaces, useful at places where machinery access in not possible.
Ridge And Furrow Method	This method involves the formation of raised beds and channels for the planting of seeds in the soil.	Reduce soil erosion and conserve water.
Broadcasting Method	It is a traditional seeding method in which seeds are evenly spread on the surface of the soil and then covered with soil again.	It is the faster and easier way of plantation, and it requires less labor & no special equipment.
Transplanting Method	This method is helpful in regions with harsh climates. The transplant method helps cotton plants grow in a nursery and be planted later in the field.	Increase productivity and Early growth if climate condition is controlled in nursery.

Crop Management in Cotton Cultivation

To achieve desirable results in cotton cultivation, it is crucial to manage the crops effectively, such as using proper irrigation systems to conserve water, fertilizers to eliminate diseases, and weed control.

Irrigation system

• Drip Irrigation Method:- This irrigation system is popular among many crops because it helps conserve water, reduces soil erosion, avoids fungal diseases, and delivers water directly to the root. Farmers use a drip system in cotton cultivation when their region’s underground water is low or bad in quality.
• Sprinkler Irrigation Method:- In the sprinkler method, a uniform amount of water is delivered to every crop, allowing crops to maintain their yield and growth.
• Surface Irrigation Method:– This is a traditional irrigation method in which water is delivered on the surface of the ground without proper distribution. Modern farmers do not use this method due to the uneven distribution of moisture to the plants.

Fertillizers

Fertilizers are necessary for cotton cultivation’s yield and overall health. It provides essential nutrients to the plants, enhancing their growth and protecting them from diseases and pests.

Fertilizer Type	Use
Organic Fertilizer	Organic matter such as compost is a traditional practice that involves mixing of manure in the soil to increase the soil fertility rate and provide vital nutrients to the plants .
NPK Fertilizer	When cotton plants grow from the seedling to the mature stage, npk fertilizers, which consist of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, are applied in the desired ratio to improve the plant’s overall health, increase yield and proper development.
Fertigation	In this method, a mixture of water and fertilizer is delivered directly to the roots of the plants. This method is highly effective in eliminating deficiency in the late season.

Removing of weeds

Cotton plants can get infected by diseases and pests transferred from weeds. Hence, clearing out the field of unwanted plants that can compete with them is mandatory.

Harvesting In Cotton Cultivation

The harvesting period of cotton cultivation falls between mid-summer and autumn. It is generally harvested in dry weather with the help of a mechanical picker or stripper when cotton appears on the ball’s surface.

Conclusion

Cotton farming is vital to India’s agricultural economic sector, which exports almost 30% of cotton worldwide. It provides income to nearly 40 million labourers in india. The government also supports farmers with MSP schemes and encourages them to adopt organic farming to save the environment from harmful greenhouse gases released by using fertilizers.