American Upland Cotton Production Technology
Agro-ecology

Cotton cultivation at present under the CDB comprises of the 19 agro-ecological zones (AEZ) out of 30 agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. The number of AEZ suitable for cotton cultivation is 1 to 12, 14, 19 & 25 to 29. Suitability of agro ecological characteristics for cotton cultivation is determined by different soils & topographical criteria. Based on the criteria, the agro-ecological characteristics most suitable, fairly suitable and unsuitable for cotton cultivation have been presented in the tabular form below.

Criteria of Agro-Ecological Zones for Cotton Cultivation

(Source : W.P. Gibson, Soil Suitability Assessment, 1984)

Climate
Cotton is generally a tropical crop. Humid and dry climate is favorable for it’s growth. The optimum temperature required for cotton cultivation is 30°C - 33°C but generally produces an expected yield at the temperature range of 22°C -35°C. Temperature bellow 10°C retards boll development and maturity. The low temperature of northern part of the country sometimes creates such problem in cotton cultivation. During growing season 1000mm rainfall gives a good production of the crop. Bangladesh receive on an average more than 2000 mm of rainfall annually but its distribution is very much erratic over space & time. Eastern part of the country generally receive much higher rainfall than that of the North Western part. Variation and duration of rainfall sometimes causes flooding, water logging which ultimately effects land preparation. Continued & excessive rainfall causes direct damage of cotton seed and seedling hinders pollination, boll formation, increase disease and pest infestation. Availability of irrigation facility for cotton- cultivation ensures desired production of cotton but in Bangladesh cotton are grown in rain fed condition.

Land Selection
High and medium high land is suitable for cotton cultivation. Standing water is hindering for cotton cultivation, the selected land for cotton cultivation should be well drained. Loamy and Sandy loam soil is most suitable for cotton cultivation but in some cases clay loam and silt loam soil can be also selected for cotton cultivation. pH range for cotton  cultivation is about 6-7.5. The existing cotton verities commonly cultivated in Bangladesh can tolerate 3000-6000 ppm salinity but High saline soil is not suitable for production. Topography of the land for upland cotton cultivation should be plain.

Land Preparation
Under jou condition of soil, land should be plowed deeply in 3-4 times with country plough or moldboard plough. After ploughed and ladder make the soil fine and plain. Land should be cleaned from weeds and other unexpected materials.

Sowing
In Bangladesh upland cotton seed sown in mid July to mid August. Sowing time depends on weather condition. In adverse weather condition cotton seed can be sown upto 30 August. Seeds are generally sown in line. If there is heavy rainfall farmers are seeded by dibbling method or raising seedling in poly bag.

Seed Rate
10-12 Kg per hectare.

Spacing

Fertilizer Application

Green manure
Green manuring with Dhaincha/Shanpat can play effective role in cotton production. The selected land for cotton cultivation seeded with 50kg/ha green manure seed in the month of June. After 45-50 days all green manure crop ploughed in the land and properly mixed with the soil.

Compost / Cowdung
Cotton land can be plowed with 12.5 tons compost or 2.5 tons varmi compost or 5-6 tons cowdung per hectare.
Chemical Fertilizer
      Rate of chemical fertilizers for cotton production

Foliar Spray
Nurient specially nitrozen, pottasium, Boron & Zinc can be folliar spray on the special condition of crop. Normally 200 gm Urea in 10 litre water for Nitrozen deficiency and 100 gm pottasium salfate/Pottasium nitrate in 10 litre water for Pottasium deficiency. Also 15 gm solubor Boron and 10-15 gm Zinc Sulfate in 10 Litre water for Boron and Zink deficiency.

Variety

Selection of Varieties
The growing period for upland cotton is from July to February. Harvesting is generally completed by late February. Main varieties of Upland cotton grown in Bangladesh are CB-1, CB-3, CB-5, CB-9 and CB-10. Of these, CB-5 and CB-9 has some tolerance to Jassids, CB-9 is the most commonly grown variety covering 60% of the total area under Upland cotton and CB-10 is considered as short duration variety.

Intercultural Operation
Balanced fertilization is needed for optimum growth and production of cotton, crop. In Bangladesh Urea, TSP, MoP, Gypsum, Zink Sulphate, Borax & Manganise at the rate of 200-250 Kg, 150-175Kg, 80-100 Kg, 10-20 Kg, 10-20 kg and 10-20 kg per hectare are recommended for cotton production, considering the fertility of land. All fertilizers except urea applied in line as basal dose and urea applied in three splits. Weeding and mulching done when necessary.

Thinning
Thinning is one of the major agronomical practice for optimum cotton production. 4-5 number of cotton seeds are sown in a same pit/hill, 10 days after germination keep two healthy plant in a hill. Twenty days after germination keeping one healthy plant in a hill with spacing 100 cm x 60 cm.

Gap Filling
After 8-10 days of germination, if some hill having no seedling, filling with a healthy seedling.

Weed Control
Weeds are hindering cotton yield of the existing varieties in Bangladesh. The cotton field should be cleaned from weeds for 45 days. In Bangladesh weed are normally controlled through Human labour. In some cases weeds are controlled chemically. Normally weeding is done for three times at 25, 45 & 65 Days after Sowing (DAS).

Roguing
To keep the variety pure roguing is necessary in the cotton field. The variety other then cultivated variety (off type plant) should be rogued before blooming the flower.

Dibbling Method of Sowing
During heavy rainfall and adverse weather condition if cotton land can’t prepare properly, cotton seed can be seeded in dibbling method. Cotton seed sown without ploughing is called dibbling method.

Irrigation
Cotton in Bangladesh are grown in a rain fed condition. If the land became dry during ball formation stage 2-3 irrigation is needed for optimum yield.

Inter Cropping
Intercropping can get higher benefit to cotton farmers in Bangladesh. The short duration leafy vegetable can be intercrop between two lines of cotton plant. Generally practiced intercrops are-Redamaranthus, Danta, Reddish, Bottle gourd & cotton+Pulses, cotton+seasem, cotton+groundnut etc.

 Relay Cropping

1. Cotton can be seeded on the line of turmeric / ginger.
2. Cotton can be seeded between two lines of banana
3. Cotton can be seeded on the line of chili.
4. Cotton can be seeded inside the field of Aus Rice in line
5. Cotton can be seeded inside the new orchard of Mango, Litchi etc.

Cotton Based Cropping Pattern

1. Cotton-jute/mesta
2. Cotton-Aus Rice
3. Cotton-maize
4. Cotton-Mung
5. Cotton-wheat
6. Cotton-seasem
7. Cotton-chili
8. Cotton-ground nut
9. Cotton-wheat-pea.

 

Hill Cotton Production Technology


Jhum Cultivation
Jhum cultivation is a special cultivation system practiced by the tribal people in the hilly areas of Bangladesh. In three Hill districts of Chittagong the tribal peoples are traditionally grow cotton following this indigenous technology. In jhum cultivation cotton seed are seeded along with other crop seed like-Rice, Sesame, Chili, Maize, Marpha, Kaown, Pea and other seeds in a same pit/hill horizontally to the hill slope. Tribal peoples harvest different crops in different time sequentially. Cotton Development Board have been working for improving the traditional technologies of cotton production practiced by the tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tract areas of Bangladesh.

Sowing Time
Mid April to mid May.

Seed Rate

Fertilizer Rate

Entomological & Pathological Aspects

In Bangladesh sub-tropical climate prevail, as a result pest infestation is very high in cotton field. The cotton crop is subject to damage by 135 species of pest right from the time of germination till the final picking. Pest control measures needed for cotton cultivation are expensive in terms of labor use and use of chemicals. Cotton is sprayed 15-20 times during the season.

The insect pests of cotton are generally categorized into (i) sucking insects and (ii) chewing insects. The major sucking insects, among others are the following:

1. Jassid                       - Amrasca biguttula
2. Aphid                        - Aphis gossypii
3. Red cotton bug           - Dysdercus cingulatus
4. White fly                    - Bemisia tabaci
5. Thrips                        - Thrips spp.

The major chewing insects of cotton are the following:

1. Bollworm

spotted                      - Earias vittella
American                    - Heliothis armigera
Pink Bollworm             - Pectinophora gossypiella

1. Leaf roller                   - Sylepta derogata
2. Spodoptora                - Spodoptora leturella
3. Semi lopper                - Cosmophila flava
4. Leaf Eating Caterpillar

The following are pathogenic diseases have been recognized by the CDB and occurs in the cotton field.

1. Seedling disease          - Rhizoctonia solani
2. Fusarium wilt              - Fusarium oxysporum
3. Bacterial leaf blight     - Xanthomonas malvacearum
4. Anthracnose              - Glomeralla gossypii
5. Root Knot                            - Meloidogyne incognita

Major Natural Enemies of Harmful Insect Pest of Cotton

a. Spider

1. Orb Spider

2. Wolf Spider

3. Lynx Spider

4. Jumping Spider

b. Lady Bird Beetle
c. Ground Beetle
d. Lacewing
e. Syrphid Fly
f. Dragon Fly
g. Damsel Fly
h. Earwig
i. Wasp      
j. Bee