Bathinda, June 9: To promote successful cultivation of cotton and indigenous cotton varieties, Dr. Jaswinder Kaur, ADO (Training), Bathinda, shared important crop management and pest control guidelines with farmers. She emphasized that adopting an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is essential for achieving higher productivity and protecting cotton crops from harmful pests. Dr. Kaur advised farmers to apply at least two neem-based sprays during the early growth stage of cotton. Neem sprays effectively control sucking pests while remaining safe for beneficial insects. She further stated that chemical pesticides should only be used when the population of whiteflies and other sucking pests exceeds the economic threshold level observed during field surveys. Farmers were also encouraged to keep their fields and surrounding areas clean and free from weeds. During the flowering stage, regular monitoring for pink bollworm infestation is crucial. If five or more damaged flowers or rosette flowers are detected during field inspections, farmers should immediately use recommended insecticides to prevent further crop damage. To achieve higher cotton yields, Dr. Kaur recommended four foliar sprays of 2% potassium nitrate solution (2 kg potassium nitrate dissolved in 100 liters of water) at weekly intervals during the flowering stage. In case of leaf reddening symptoms, farmers should spray magnesium sulphate solution (1 kg dissolved in 100 liters of water) twice during the flowering and boll formation stages at a gap of 15 days. The Punjab Agriculture Department continues to guide farmers toward scientific and sustainable farming practices to enhance cotton productivity and safeguard crops from pest attacks.

Cotton Cultivation Punjab Bathinda Cotton Farming Cotton Crop Management Pink Bollworm Control Whitefly Management In Cotton Neem Spray For Cotton Punjab Agriculture Department Cotton Yield Improvement Indigenous Cotton Cultivation Potassium Nitrate Spray