Climatic Requirements

Cotton is grown in tropical and subtropical conditions. It thrives well in warm and frost- free conditions with an ideal temperature ranging between 21–30°C. Rainfed cotton, which accounts for 65% of the total cotton area, requires a minimum rainfall of 500mm. Excess rain or drought affects crop yield.

Soils

Cotton is cultivated on a wide range of soils—from well-drained deep alluvial soils in the northern region to black clayey soils of varying depths in the Central Zone, and mixed black and red soils in the Southern Zone. While cotton shows moderate tolerance to salinity, it is sensitive to waterlogging and therefore thrives best in well- drained soils.

Sowing Time & Methods

The cotton growing season varies across the three zones. In the northern zone, it typically begins earlier, around April to May, while in the southern zone, it aligns with the onset of the monsoon. Irrigated cotton is usually sown between March and May, whereas rainfed cotton is planted in June–July with the arrival of monsoon rains.

Cotton is sown using tractor or bullock-drawn seed drill or by dibbling. Hand-dibbling of seeds at recommended spacing is commonly practiced in rainfed areas, particularly for hybrids.

Growing States

Major cotton growing States in India, are divided into three zones, viz. north zone, central zone and south zone:

• North zone: Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan
• Central Zone: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat
• South Zone: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Besides, cotton is also grown in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal & Tripura.

Varieties

• Asian Cotton (G. arboreum & G. herbaceum) – Grown in rainfed regions
• American Upland Cotton (G. hirsutum) – Widely grown across India; G. hirsutum represents 90% of the hybrid cotton production in India.
• Egyptian Cotton (G. barbadense) – Limited, high-quality fibre

Water Management

Based on the climate and crop-growing period, cotton requires 700-1,200 mm water to meet its maximum water requirement. Cotton is majorly flood irrigated, although irrigation by furrow or alternate furrow method is effective. Drip irrigation is gaining popularity particularly for hybrids on Central and South Zones.

Weed Control

Cotton is susceptible to weed competition until 70 days from sowing. Pre-plant incorporation of Fluchloralin (45 EC) @ 1 kg active ingredients per hectare or pre- emergent application of Diuron (80% WP) @ 1 kg active ingredients per hectare of Pendimethalin (30 EC) @ 1 kg active ingredients per hectare within 20 hours of sowing with 1 hand-weeding and cross-wise hoeing is recommended for effective weed control up to 45 days.