Water consumption of cotton in the semi arid tracts of India

In the present study, evapotranspiration and other agrometeorological data for three different locations, viz., Akola. Bellary and Kovilpatti have been utilized to understand consumptive use and related aspects of cotton. Ratios of evapotranspiration to potential evapotranspiration (ET/PET) and evapotranspiration to total shortwave radiation (ET/Rs) increase gradually as the vegetative cover develops and shows year to year variation at same location. The energy summation indices have been worked out for all the three stations which indicate that the total yields are more dependent on consumptive water use by crop rather than energy summation indices.. The water use efficiency (WUE) of cotton crop also reveals wide variations in time and space.

Physicochemical features, functional characteristics, and health benefits of cottonseed oil: a review

Vegetable oils have their specific physicochemical properties due to which they are playing vital role in human nutritional diet for health benefits. Cottonseed oil is obtained from various species of cotton seeds that are famous to be grown mainly for their fiber quality. The most prominently used specie is Gossypium hirsutum. It is obvious that the seeds of different variety of cotton vary as grown in diverse agroclimatic conditions with respect to oil, fats and protein contents. Cottonseed oil is routinely used for cooking and food manufacturing products. Cottonseed oil obtained after proper extraction/processing steps from crude state to refined oil in a variety of ways. Cotton crop is considered for their dual-use purpose, for fiber quality and oil production to promote health benefits in the world. Keeping in view the above facts, this review clearly demonstrated an overview about physicochemical and functional properties of cottonseed oil to promote health benefits associated with the use of this oil. The overall characteristics and all concerned health benefits of CSO will further improve their usefulness is a compact way. We have summarized a brief multi-dimensional features of CSO in all aspects up to the best of our knowledge for the end researchers who can further research in the respective aspect.

Solar energy components in cotton and safflower crops

Solar energy components at different phenophases of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and safflower (Carthanus tinctorius) crops were measured. The percentage of different components are calculated. Solar energy utilisation component is found maximum during flowering stage in cotton and during seed setting stage in safflower. The albedo is constant till the flowering stage and gradually increases reaching a maximum at the boll development stage and later decreases gradually in the cotton crop. In the case of safflower, the albedo gra dually increases till the seed setting stage is attained and decreases. The transmitted component first decreases and then increases in both the crops.

Forewarning incidence of American boll worm (Heliothis armigera H.) of cotton at Akola in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra

A study on pest population of American boll worm (Heliothis armigera H.) in cotton crop as influenced by weather parameters like rainfall (RF), maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), morning relative humidity (RH I), evening relative humidity (RH II) and bright sunshine hours (BSS) and its statistical correlation was undertaken with data recorded at Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhyapeeth, Akola. The maximum activity and damage due to high population of Heliothis was observed during 35th to 50th standard weeks. Maximum temperature (40th week) and minimum temperature (37th week), morning and evening relative humidity during 38th week play an important role in pest infestation during 40th standard week. Flowering to boll formation stages of the crop suffered heavy incidence of Heliothis. Critical weather parameters causing the outbreak of Heliothis in Akola was maximum temperature around 32 °C and minimum temperature around 23 °C, morning relative humidity below 88%, evening relative humidity below 60% and hours of bright sunshine above 6.5 hrs / day.

Forewarning of incidence of Spodoptera litura (Tobacco caterpillar) in soybean and cotton using statistical and synoptic approach

A study on the effect of weather parameters on the the population dynamics of Spodoptera litura (S.litura) in soybean and cotton during kharif season using six years pest data (pheromone trap catches) at Niphad and Rahuri in Maharashtra showed that rainfall two weeks prior, Tmax and Tmin during the week of incidence signifiantly contributed towards the occurrence of S.litura in soybean. Maximum temperature and morning humidity during the week and one week prior were found to be favourable for the incidence of S. litura in cotton. Temperature (maximum: 26-27°C & minimum: 21-22°C), morning relative humidity (above 90%) and rainfall during one week prior were found to be congenial weather parameters for the outbreak of the pest in soybean. Similarly, maximum temperature around 32-33°C, minimum temperature around 22-23°C, morning relative humidity around 90 per cent, sunshine hours about 4 hrs day-1 and rainfall during the previous 2 weeks favoured heavy incidence of S.litura in cotton crop during flowering to boll formation stages. It is also shown how the incidence of S.litura in soybean and cotton can be predicted well in advance using the observed relationship of the pest with weather parameters as well as weather forecast.

Effect of Aspergillus and Bacillus Concentration on Cotton Growth Promotion

There are no studies in literature on the effect of inoculant concentrations on plant growth promotion. Therefore, in the present study, two experiments were carried out, one under pot conditions and the other in the field with cotton crop, in order to verify the effect of Aspergillus and Bacillus concentrations on the biometric and nutritional parameters of plant and soil, in addition to yield. The pot experiment evaluated the effect of different concentrations, ranging from 1 × 104 to 1 × 1010 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU mL–1) of microorganisms Bacillus velezensis (Bv188), Bacillus subtilis (Bs248), B. subtilis (Bs290), Aspergillus brasiliensis (F111), Aspergillus sydowii (F112), and Aspergillus sp. versicolor section (F113) on parameters plant growth promotion and physicochemical and microbiological of characteristics soil. Results indicated that the different parameters analyzed are influenced by the isolate and microbial concentrations in a different way and allowed the selection of four microorganisms (Bs248, Bv188, F112, and F113) and two concentrations (1 × 104 and 1 × 1010 CFU mL–1), which were evaluated in the field to determine their effect on yield. The results show that, regardless of isolate, inoculant concentrations promoted the same fiber and seed cotton yield. These results suggest that lower inoculant concentrations may be able to increase cotton yield, eliminating the need to use concentrated inoculants with high production cost.

Building Climate-Resilient Cotton Production System for Changing Climate Scenarios Using the DSSAT Model

Cotton production is highly vulnerable to climate change, and heat stress is a major constraint in the cotton zone of Punjab, Pakistan. Adaptation is perceived as a critical step to deal with forecasted and unexpected climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to standardize and authenticate a cotton crop model based on climate and crop husbandry data in order to develop an adaptation package for cotton crop production in the wake of climate change. For the study, the data were collected from the cotton-growing areas of Punjab, viz. Bahawalpur and Khanewal. After the calibration and validation against field data, the Cropping System Model CSM–CROPGRO–Cotton in the shell of the decision support system for agro-technology transfer (DSSAT) was run with a future climate generated under two representative concentrations pathways (RCPs), viz. RCPs 4.5 and 8.5 with five global circulation models (GCMs). The whole study showed that a model is an artistic tool for examining the temporal variation in cotton and determining the potential impact of planting dates on crop growth, phenology, and yield. The results showed that the future climate would have drastic effects on cotton production in the project area. Reduction in seed cotton yield (SCY) was 25.7% and 32.2% under RCPs 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. The comparison of five GCMs showed that a hot/wet climate would be more damaging than other scenarios. The simulations with different production options showed that a 10% and 5% increase in nitrogen and plant population, respectively, compared to the present would be the best strategy in the future. The model further suggested that planting conducted 15 days earlier, combined with the use of water and nitrogen (fertigation), would help to improve yield with 10% less water under the future climate. Overall, the proposed adaptation package would help to recover 33% and 37% of damages in SCY due to the climate change scenarios of RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed package would also help the farmers increase crop yield by 7.5% over baseline (current) yield.

Comparative Efficacy of Pre-Tank Insecticides Combination against Bemisia tabaci Genn. on Two Cotton Varieties at Layyah

Whitefly is a serious threat to the cotton production. To find out the most suitable control measure a field experiment was conducted at District Layyah, to compare the efficacy of different pre-tank mix insecticides., viz. Legand (spiromesifen + abamectin), Actify (Isoprocarb + etiprole), Bila (Pyriproxyfen + acetamaprid), Best Guard (buprofezin + nitenpyram), Jeera (Pyriproxyfen + acetamaprid), Rugra (nitenpyram + chlorfenapyr), Editor (acetamaprid + ibiocydam), and Concept Plus (acephate + phenoxaprop) on BT-886 and Non-BT (Shahkar) cotton varieties. Maximum population reduction of adult whitefly after first application of insecticides was found in Legand on BT and Non-BT cotton crop exhibited, 24.37 and 37.66 after 2 days, 53.08 and 55.31 after 4 days and 73.29 and 68.17 after 6 days respectively. Maximum population reduction of nymph whitefly was found in Legand on BT and Non-BT cotton crop exhibited 33.85 and 34.07 after 2 days, 55.10 and 54.49 after 4 days and 74.66 and 75.28 after 6 days respectively. Maximum population reduction of adult whitefly after second application of insecticides was found in Legand on BT and Non-BT cotton crop exhibited, 24.56 and 39.57 after 2 days, 30.29 and 55.97 after 4 days and 71.34 and 69.62 4after 6 days respectively. Maximum population reduction of nymph whitefly was found in Legand on BT and Non-BT cotton crop exhibited 34.07 and 40.52 after 2 days, 54.49, after 4 days and 75.28 and 74.92 after 6 days respectively.

Waterlogging In Cotton: Stress, Consequences, Adaptability, Mechanisms and Measures for Mitigation of Yield Losses

From many years, global cotton production suffers from waterlogging stress. Climatic variation and heavy rainfall conditions with poor internal soil drainage mechanism limits the growth and development of cotton crop due to waterlogging. It reduced the soil oxygen which causes the severe yield losses and sometimes even failure of a crop. Indeterminate growth habit of cotton plant makes it able to adapt this stress by activation of the escape, self compensation and quiescence mechanism. The reduction of biomass, development of adventitious roots and accelerated growth mechanism, all are associated with adaption and tolerance mechanisms. Waterlogging significantly affect the cellulose and sucrose content of fiber in cotton. Sodic soils also exacerbate the waterlogging stress because these soils already suffer by aeration stress. Different growth stages are effect differently but flowering and boll setting stage is more sensitive to waterlogging conditions.