Kharif Crop - cotton

Cotton crops

Cotton is a fibre that is most commonly used in the production of textiles. Cotton cotton grows in ball ground the seeds of the cotton plant. 

Cotton is a soft ,fluffy staple that grows in a boll ,or protective case ,around the seeds of the cotton plant of the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae. Under natural condition, the cotton bolls will increase the dispersal of the seeds. 

 Cotton is best grown in soil with an excellent parts holding capacity. irradiation and good drainage are equally important as the crop cannot withstand  excessive moisture and water logging.

Cotton duration

6 to 8 month

Cotton is a Kharif Crop which requires 6 to 8 months to mature.

It's time of sowing and harvesting differs in different parts of the country depending upon the climate conditions.

History 

Cotton is being employed by mankind for over 7000 years. This fabric has been first found and cultivated in India and later on in Mexico. Through the years cotton would find its way to Europe and other parts of the world through exploration and increasing trading activities . During the industrial revolution , cotton would become an icon of these events. Cotton production would increase significantly during this period due to the use of new machines and the increasing demand for cheap textiles. Besides textiles, cotton has also been used in the first types of paper.

Production of cotton

 The production time of cotton can take up to 7 months which means it is important to plant cotton as early as possible. The first step of cotton production is planting of the cotton seed. The seeds can be planted in so-called clumps or will be planted singularly.

The seeds will be placed in either in shallow or deep ground depending on the temperature of the region. Approximately 9 weeks after planting the cotton balls will be fully grown and the fiber inside each cotton ball will start to ripen and push outward. 

After 6 weeks of fibres will have grown sufficiently. The next step is the harvesting where the leaves of the cotton ball are removed from the fibre and the fiber is collected. After the harvesting the fiber , the seeds and other trash is removed in a machine called stripper . Afterwards the cotton fiber is compressed into bales for efficient storage.

Management of cotton

1. Sow the crop early .

2. Use resistant varieties such as khandwa-2

Or the varieties having leaves rich in tannin contents. 

3.Do not use high does of nitrogenous fertilizers.

4.Grow cowpea/onion/soybean as an intercrop in cotton to reduce early stage pest. 

5.Use okra as a trap crop.

6.Adopt proper crop rotation.

Applications

The most common use of cotton is for the production of various textile products. These products range from numerous types of clothing to bath towels to bed sheets. Cotton is also used to produce yarn , which in turn can be used in knitting. Apart from the use in textiles, fishing nets and tents. The seeds that are gathered during the harvest are being used to create. Cottonseed oil . This type of vegetable oil is mostly used in the feeding of livestock.