FIELD DAY ON “CLOSER SPACING IN COTTON” in KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA, WYRA KHAMMAM on 23.10.2024

Cotton is one of the most significant fiber and cash crop of India playing a dominant role in the agricultural and industrial economy of the country. The everchanging climatic conditions, shortage of labour, increased incidence of pests and diseases necessitated the need to develop new technologies that can help farmer to generate adequate income without incurring in loss. It is here that closer spacing in cotton helps the farmers to overcome these problems. Closer spacing in cotton can be used in medium deep, productive soils in areas with higher rainfall with advantages like earlier canopy closure, increased photosynthesis can occur and early maturity. Semi-compact genotypes are recommended with canopy management by applying PGR sprays or de-topping at 90 days is recommended. The spacing for medium deep soils 90 x 30 cm (3 x 1 feet) to give a plant population of 14400 per acre. Closer spacing can be taken up in medium deep, productive soils using semi-compact genotypes in relatively assured/higher rainfall areas. Canopy management is done similar to that in HDPS where mepiquat chloride sprays are applied at 45, 65 and need based spray at 85-90 days. Also, canopy management can also be done manually by removing monopodial branches at 40-45 days after sowing and de-topping at about 90 days after sowing. In view of this, KVK, Wyra has organized field day on “Closer spacing in Cotton” under the Cotton Special Project “Targeting technology to Agro-Ecological Zones – Large Scale Demonstrations of Best Practices in enhancing Cotton Productivity” in Erlapudi Village, Raghunadhapalem Mandal and Ganeswaram Village Khammam Urban mandal at farmer’s field on 23.10.2024 and 24.10.2024 respectively, for creating awareness and popularizing this farmer friendly technology. The farmers were clearly sensitized on the advantages of this fast-growing technology as need of the hour and instructed to remove the present cotton crop by the end of November or first fortnight of December and go for cultivation of green gram, black gram or maize as a part of Crop diversification. Dr. A Sampath Kumar, Regional Nodal officer ICAR – CICR, Nagpur, Dr. K. Ravi Kumar Programme Coordinator (FAC), Mrs. PSM. Phanisri SMS(Extension), Young professionals of Special project on cotton D Srinivasa, P Yugandhar along with K Uma Maheswar Reddy (MAO) participated in the meeting and queries concerning the technology were cleared by Programme Coordinator and scientists. Later the Scientists visited the farmers field in Erlapudi, Chimakurthi, Ramkyathanda, Tanikella and Thummalapalli villages further observed the field conditions as well as took the feedback of the farmers following the practice.