Jalgaon: Signs of 40% reduction in production due to cotton rot
By yash chouhan 2025-09-11 12:16:40
Cotton rot in Jalgaon... signs of 30 to 40 percent reduction in production !
Jalgaon - The continuous rain in the district for the last few days has now stopped. However, farmers are worried as the outbreak of cotton rot has increased after the rain. Agricultural experts have predicted a 30 to 40 percent reduction in cotton production due to rot.
Due to farmers reducing their cultivation in Jalgaon district, the cotton acreage has decreased by about 21 percent in the Kharif season this year. It is seen that cotton, which is currently in the kernel ripening stage, has spread rot widely after the rains stopped. Green leaves have also started turning red suddenly, seeing this, farmers have also taken measures. According to experts at the Cotton Research Center in Jalgaon, rot in cotton crops is not a disease but a type of abnormality. This abnormality is seen in large numbers in the American hybrid BT variety. Water stress, excessive water retention in the soil, i.e. lack of moisture in the soil, temperature changes, infestation of sucking pests and imbalance of nutrients like nitrogen and magnesium are the main causes of red spot on cotton crop.
What are the remedies for red spot?
To prevent red spot on cotton, integrated nutrient management should be adopted from the beginning of the crop. Organic manure, farmyard manure, compost manure, vermicompost should be used before planting. Also, seed treatment should be done with Azotobacter and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria. Chemical fertilizers and micronutrients should be used as recommended. While using chemical fertilizers, they should be given at the right time, in the right way and in the right quantity. If rainwater is seen accumulating in cotton, it is necessary to drain out the water immediately. If water availability is less, then arrangements should be made to rain one after the other. If there is moisture, light tilling should be done. It is also necessary to apply manure to the crop. If the last installment of nitrogen has not been given, then 40 to 50 kg of urea should be given per acre. Magnesium sulphate should be used at 20 to 30 kg per hectare. Also, two percent DAP or soluble fertilizers should be sprayed. Cotton Research Center, Jalgaon has advised that after the first spraying, two to three sprayings should be done at an interval of 10-15 days.
If the cotton crop is affected by red blight disease, then the yield may decrease by 30 to 40 percent. Therefore, farmers should take preventive measures in time. -Dr. Girish Chaudhary (Producer- Cotton Research Center, Jalgaon)
