The Farmers Advisory Committee at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan on Tuesday issued a fresh set of recommendations for cotton growers to manage the crop over the next fortnight amid hot and humid weather.
CCRI advises cotton growers on heat,pest control
MULTAN, Jul 07 (APP):The Farmers Advisory Committee at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan on Tuesday issued a fresh set of recommendations for cotton growers to manage the crop over the next fortnight amid hot and humid weather.
The ninth meeting of the committee,chaired by CCRI Director,Sabahat Hussain cautioned that prevailing weather could stress the cotton crop and advised farmers to irrigate fields every four to five days depending on conditions.
Growers were told to watch for fruit shedding,yellowing leaves or reddish foliage,which can signal heat stress, moisture deficiency or insect attack.
To counter heat stress and boost boll formation, the committee recommended a foliar spray mix of Potassium Sulphate,Magnesium Sulphate,Zinc Sulphate,Boron and Urea dissolved in 125 liters of water per acre,applied in early morning or evening.
Farmers were also asked to drain stagnant water within 24 hours of rainfall, apply the remaining nitrogen dose at square formation or flowering,and add potassium fertilizer with irrigation.
For weed control in Triple Gene varieties,the committee advised careful glyphosate application using a protective shield to avoid contact with cotton plants.
On the pest front,the committee warned of rising Jassid and Whitefly populations due to humid conditions and suggested specific insecticide combinations for each.
It also recommended installing pheromone traps against Pink Bollworm ,10 per acre for control and one per five acres for monitoring with capsules replaced every 15 days.
Insecticide spraying was advised if three to four moths are trapped over three consecutive nights.
For seed cotton,the committee advised timely roguing, prompt drying and ginning to prevent Dusky Cotton Bug damage and retaining only seed with at least 75 percent germination.
Clothianidin spray was recommended for Dusky Cotton Bug control.
The meeting was attended by senior CCRI officials including Sajid Mahmood,Muhammad Akbar,Ahmad,Rabia Saeed,Asiya Parveen and Junaid Ahmad.
