Technical committee issue fortnightly guidelines for cotton farmers

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2026) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan, issued a fortnightly set of guidelines for cotton farmers for successful cultivation of early cotton, better crop growth and enhanced production.

The meeting, chaired by CCRI director, Ms. Sabahat Hussain, recommended that farmers should complete thinning of early-sown cotton within 25 to 30 days after sowing to maintain proper plant spacing and the required plant population per acre.

Phosphorus fertilizer should be applied after thinning either through irrigation, by placing it in the furrows followed by watering, or by applying it in moist soil conditions and running a hoeing plough in the furrows.

The recommended Phosphorus fertilizers dose is one bag of DAP, or one bag of TSP, or three bags of SSP, or two bags of NP per acre. In fields where the problem of red cotton leaves is observed, farmers are advised to apply one bag of Potassium and 10 to 15 kilograms of Magnesium per acre after thinning. It was noted that the reddening of cotton leaves is mainly caused by the deficiency of Potassium and Magnesium.

Soil analysis was advised to ensure need-based balanced fertilizer application. For land preparation, farmers were advised to use a laser land leveler to conserve irrigation water and fertilizers, prevent rainwater stagnating, so as to save crop from diseases.

To improve the fertility of weak soils, farmers were advised to apply at least five trolley loads of farmyard manure per acre, or incorporate a green manure crop into the soil 30 days before sowing.

Chisel plough was advised to break the hardpan layer so that plant roots can penetrate deeper into the soil.

Before the start of sowing, farmers were advised to arrange 10 percent additional seed to ensure availability for gap filling.

Farmers should purchase approved and healthy seed only from reliable institutions or corporations, giving preference to Triple Gene varieties, as these offer better resistance against pink bollworm and Glyphosate.

For early cotton cultivation on bed and furrows, 6 to 8 kilograms of delinted seed per acre with a minimum germination rate of 75 percent should be used.

Farmers should treat the seed with a mixture of Imidacloprid and Tebuconazole (10 ml per kilogram of seed) to protect crop from sucking pests during the first 40 days.

For off-season management of the Dusky Cotton Bug, farmers should prune plants around fields wherever the pest is observed. This pest is commonly found on China rose, berry, and moringa trees. During early sowing, considering the plant’s spreading and bush-forming ability, a minimum plant-to-plant distance of one and a half feet should be maintained. In saline soils, farmers should adopt ridge sowing.

For effective weed control, farmers are advised to apply Pendimethalin (1 liter per acre) before sowing and S-metolachlor (800 ml per acre) immediately after sowing in moist soil conditions. Cotton should not be cultivated in fields where okra or eggplant crops are already present.

For off-season management of pink bollworm, it is extremely important to turn cotton sticks twice a week and remove the debris present beneath the heaps.

The meeting was attended by heads of various departments including Dr. Muhammad Naveed Afzal, Sajid Mahmood, Dr. Muhammad Akbar, Dr. Rabia Saeed, Dr. Farzana Akbar, Dr. Asia Parveen, Mian Muhammad Azam, Dr. Noor Muhammad, and Junaid Ahmed Daha.

The third meeting of the Farmers Advisory Committee will be held at the institute on Mar 16.