Cotton
Cotton is an important cash crop in India and Gujarat. India is the second largest producer, consumer and exporter of cotton in the world.
The state of Gujarat ranks first and second in the country in terms of cotton production (3 lakh bales) and cultivated area (3 lakh hectares) respectively (2016-17). Foreign cotton (hybrid and Indo-American) varieties are cultivated in about 5% of the area in the state and indigenous cotton (herbaceous) varieties in 51% of the area. The Vagad area is known for the most unfavorable conditions for agriculture in the world. Indigenous cotton (herbaceum) is resistant to erratic rainfall, high temperatures, frost, soil salinity and low depth in the Vagad area. Indigenous cotton cultivation generally involves more seeds than required, much wider sown, fallow and weedy farms. Only by adopting proper cultivation method of indigenous cotton keeping in view these issues, the full potential of good varieties of cotton can be reaped and its production can be increased.
According to the newly announced Textile Policy of Gujarat Government - 2017, the goal is to make the cotton cultivation of Gujarat export oriented with the aim of "Farm to Filer to Fabric to Fashion to Foreign" to increase the maximum value of cotton. Therefore, the demand for cotton in the state is likely to increase gradually.
There are a total of 20 species of cotton in the world. Of these, two native (Herbaceum and Arborium) and two exotic (Hirsutum and Barbedans) species are cultivated commercially. Herbaceum and arborium species are known as native cotton. The Hirsutum and Barbedans species are known as American and Egyptian cotton, respectively. Cotton is cultivated in about 6 countries. Herbsium cotton is cultivated in only two countries in the world, India and Iran.
Read in Gujarati ----- ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો
Issues highlighting the importance of herbaceous cotton
1. Indigenous cotton costs due to low cost and high production in the era of commercial farming:
The ratio of benefits is more favorable.
. Desikapas will easily maintain its place in the global market competition due to its low cost of cultivation. Indigenous cotton supplies less than 20 counts of cotton from textile mills. Herbaceous cotton is highly resistant to biological factors Drug use is limited. And the environment is maintained Capable of producing the same yield as native cotton hybrids even in semi-drought conditions Is More suitable for dyeing and other processes in textile mills Indigenous cotton ends have higher gossipol element and higher resistance to caterpillars can be seen.
. Indigenous cotton inorganic factors such as alkaline and alkaline soils, wind speed, elevation Has good resistance to temperature etc.
. Indigenous cotton cultivation in Vagad area to meet the demand for organic cotton Conveniences abound.
10. In terms of industry, the rupee yield in domestic cotton is much higher than other cotton.
11. The similarity in maturity of the fibers of native cotton is better than that of other cotton.
13. Indigenous cotton seeds are high in fat and linoleic fatty acids
Oil is good for health.
Read in Gujarati ----- ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો
Land and soil preparation
Cotton crops are well suited to well drained, medium loamy, loamy soils. Land that has been flooded for a long time is not suitable for cotton crop. As cotton is a crop with deep roots, for the development of roots as well as to preserve the moisture in the soil for a long time after planting, immediately after harvesting, make two to three tillages according to the type of soil and level the soil. Deep plowing of heavy to medium black soil once every two to three years destroys the living organisms, eggs, cells, etc. in the soil from the heat of the sun or by birds, and increases the moisture accumulation in the soil.
Read in Gujarati ----- ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો
Seed / variety selection
The comparative economic characteristics of the native varieties of cotton are as follows.
Among the varieties developed from Viramgam center for Vagad area, V.2 (for closed black), Gujarat cotton-16 and Gujarat cotton-21 and Anand desi cotton-1 (for semi-open black) varieties have been recommended for cultivation. Certified seeds should be recommended only from reputed institutes.
* In favorable farming conditions
Seed grooming
Spread the seed at the rate of 2-3 gm of mercury per kg of seed, and treat Azetobacter (5 ml per kg of seed) as liquid organic manure.
Sowing time
Planting of native cotton should be done immediately after the last week of June after effective rains. The first fortnight of July is considered to be the most favorable time for sowing. Late sowing (August Mass) is not economically viable.
Parvani
In particular, if cotton has been planted in Ori and a good number of plants have sprouted, when the cotton plants reach a height of 2 to 3 inches, keep a distance of 15 inches between the two plants in a row of cotton, keep one plant in one place and transplant additional plants. , Adequate availability of water and nutrients results in higher yields.
To fill in the blanks
Seeds are depleted due to low vibrancy as well as adverse conditions for seed germination. To fill such gaps as early as possible so that sufficient number of plants are maintained in the unit area and more production can be obtained.
Organic and chemical fertilizers
Organic manure improves soil moisture retention capacity, soil drainage, air circulation and soil fertility. It breeds and increases the activity of micro-organisms in the soil. And provides nutrients. Therefore, as a base fertilizer, the crop should be given 10 tons per hectare (2 to 3 trailers) of well-drained manure once in three to four years. If organic manure is not available in sufficient quantity, chas should be filled and cotton should be sown in chas when it rains. Applying 200 kg of castor oil per hectare in the furrow before sowing reduces the effect of Sukar disease.
Read in Gujarati ----- ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો
20 kg per hectare in chemical fertilizers. Nitrogen (2 kg urea) in two equal portions. 50 kg Nitrogen fertilizer should be given 20-2 days after sowing after weeding and weeding. The second installment should be given about 3 to 4 days after sowing. Adequate moisture in the soil is essential when applying fertilizer. It is not recommended to apply phosphorus and potash fertilizers in cotton crop. However, the soil needs to be tested to provide fertilizers according to the deficiency of those elements.
Weed control and inter tillage
Weeds compete with crops for light, moisture, and nutrients. Weeds damage the crop till it is about 30 days old. So that production is reduced. Therefore hand weeding and weed killers should be used as well as inter-tillage and field weeding should be kept free. Pre-emergency spraying of pendimethalin or fluchloralin at the rate of 200 gm per hectare as recommended by the research. At the same time, weeding and intercropping should be done by hand twice in 20 and 30 days after sowing the crop.
Irrigation
Desikapas does not get much water. Plant bodies need constant access to moisture for religious activities. Water availability in our area is generally limited. Therefore, if there is facility for irrigation and if the rains are prolonged, then irrigation should be given in case of crisis such as maximum flowering stage and growth stage. If the area is more and water is limited, water can be used more efficiently by alternately plowing the crop.
Crop protection
Diseases and pests are rarely found in native varieties of cotton. However, when the pest exceeds the tolerable dose, mechanical, biological, and chemical control measures should be taken as required.
Cotton weave
Compared to other areas of cotton, cotton weaving in Vagad area is done by breaking with kala rather than straight. And then when the time comes, the cotton is separated by blackening. And for the purpose of speeding up the weaving of black, the weaving is done on high weight. Therefore, the proportion of kitty kastar in cotton is found to be 12-15%. Which is the highest in the world. In order to survive in the WTO, it is important to reduce the amount of kitty husks to make cotton exportable. Necessary guidance can be given to the laborers by taking necessary care at the time of cotton weaving. For that, the rate of weaving should be linked to the quality of cotton. In order to reduce the cost of weaving, the quality of cotton is reduced due to dust particles, kitty sticking and sometimes non-seasonal rains. The luster of the wire decreases. The smoothness decreases. Strength is affected. And the color fades, resulting in a lower price for cotton. Therefore, when the cotton weave is torn, the dry leaves, dust, etc. on the ground should not be stuck in the same way two to three times.
Read in Gujarati ----- ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો
Steps to prevent cotton spoilage
A. Steps to take on the farm:
(1) Extracting cotton from fully open stalks, weaving cotton from immature stalks reduces its quality.
(2) Separate cotton wool with rotten tissue, germs, stains, ground and soil and fill it in a separate bag.
(2) When weaving cotton, care should be taken to keep the amount of kitty weeds to a minimum.
(2) The cotton of the second fall or the back weave should be kept separate.
(2) Cotton cloth bags should be used for weaving cotton in the field.
(2) Place cotton on the ground with a cloth or plastic bed so that the soil, dust etc. is not spoiled.
(2) Store woven cotton in a clean place with 2 to 3% moisture.
(2) Instructing cotton weavers to wear cotton cloth over their heads. So that her hair does not get stuck in the cotton.
(2) Fill the cotton only after cleaning the hand cart or tractor during the hair fermentation.
(10) Cotton weaving should be done only after 90% of the seedlings are opened in the field.
(11) After filling the cotton, the hand cart or tractor should be covered with cotton cloth, linen, canvas from all sides.
(12) Cotton weaving should be done only after the morning dew or moisture has gone away.
(15) In cotton plants, weave the lower stalks first so that the dry leaves falling by shaking the plants do not get stuck with the cotton and the amount of kitty weeds can be reduced.
(12) Weaving of different varieties of cotton should be carried to the godown or gin by different means of transport.
(12) Godown doors should be closed after storage of cotton. So as to prevent waste from coming out with air.
(12) The place to keep the quantity of cotton should be away from the bushes. So that cotton can be protected from the infestation of leaves, twigs or birds.
(12) When weaving kala, weave only kalaj from the branch. Do not scrub the branches with kala.
(12) Among the closed kala varieties grown in Vagad area, only kala should be separated and brought home from the field as there are leaves, soil, wind etc. in the field. Only cotton should be pulled from the open black and the closed black should be woven separately.
B. Steps to take ‘No’ on the farm:
(1) Cotton should not be weaved in humid environment in the morning.
(2) Cotton of different varieties or cotton of front and back weaving should not be mixed with each other.
(2) To increase the weight of cotton, soaking cotton with soil, salt or water is worth Rs.
(2) Plant leaves when weaving cotton. Branch. Branches should not be picked.
(3) Kerosene, petrol, diesel and other substances which can burn fast should not be kept near the storage place of cotton.
(2) Do not sit on the cotton heap while handling the cotton.
(2) Cattle and other animals should not be tied near the cotton heap.
Read in Gujarati ----- ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો