Exposure Visit cum Field Day on “High Density Planting System (HDPS) in Cotton” by Agricultural Research Station, Tornala on 03-11-2022

An exposure visit cum field day on “High Density Planting System (HDPS) in Cotton” was organized by Agricultural Research Station, Tornala on 03-11-2022. Dr. S. Sridevi, Principal Scientist and Head, ARS, Tornala welcomed the farmers and briefed about the techniques to be followed in high density cotton cultivation method to cotton growing farmers of Siddipet district and also said that at ARS, Tornala HDPS cotton demonstration was taken up with a hybrid RCH-665 (90 cm x 20c cm) and ADB-39 (60 cm x 20c cm) with pneumatic planter, with this method of sowing plant population of > 25000 per acre could be maintained and expecting about 10q of yields under rainfed light soil conditions. Further she explained that the traditional cotton cultivation requires 3-4 pickings and requires more labour but in HDPS cotton cultivation requires one or two times of cotton picking and less labour and the crop will be harvested by the end of November or first fortnight of December which helps to reduce the Pink Boll Worm incidence and facilitates a sequence crop. The scientists of ARS, Tornala, Dr. N. Sainath, Dr. Umarani, Dr. Swetha, Mrs. A. Saritha and Mr. J. Vijay, Coordintor, DAATTC, Tornala also clarified the doubts of farmers on various aspects this technology. Cotton growing farmers of Doulthabad, Laxmidevipalli, Hunabad, Cherial and Koheda villages of Siddipet district took part in the programme.