Gujarat: Want to prevent cotton wilting? Dig pits 4 inches away from the plant; you won't even need fertilizer.
Amreli: Waterlogging in the soil after unseasonal rains depletes cotton plants of oxygen, which can lead to problems like parawilt. Agriculture officer Bhaveshbhai Pipaliya explained that farmers should immediately drain out accumulated water from the fields and dig pits along the stem to maintain air flow and prevent the plant from suddenly drying out.
Unseasonal rains in many areas, including Saurashtra, have caused significant damage to Kharif crops, including cotton. Waterlogging in many areas has increased the risk of the first bunch of cotton crop getting soaked, the second bunch getting damaged, and fungal diseases spreading. Keeping this situation in mind, the Agriculture Department has announced immediate measures for farmers.
Agriculture officer Bhaveshbhai Pipaliya explained that unseasonal rains cause waterlogging in the soil, leading to a lack of oxygen. This condition can lead to problems like parawilt, where the plant suddenly dries up and the seedlings burst due to immaturity. To avoid this, first drain any standing water from the field immediately.
After draining, poke holes with a rod about 4 inches from the edge of the cotton stem to ensure aeration in the soil, increasing oxygen penetration and preventing sudden wilting of the cotton.
Due to moisture after rain, cotton is susceptible to fungal growth. To prevent this, the Department of Agriculture recommends spraying or drenching with fungicides. The following are useful for this: mancozeb + carbendazim powder, copper oxychloride, tebuconazole, or azoxystrobin. These drugs protect the plant from fungus and reduce the likelihood of wilting.
Additionally, spraying with micronutrients containing boron is essential to prevent fruit drop. Boron plays a vital role in plant growth, and its deficiency causes problems such as fruit drop and no flowering. Therefore, spraying boron solution improves both yield and quality. During harvesting, farmers are advised to keep wet cotton separate to ensure good quality cotton is not spoiled and to fetch a fair price in the market.
For farmers practicing natural or organic farming, the use of Trichoderma viridi and Pseudomonas is recommended instead of spraying fungicides. This solution can be sprayed near the plant stem or mixed with cow dung and organic manure. Spraying Trichoderma is also useful in providing relief to crops during stressful conditions.
