Cotton, or Kapas, is rightly called “White Gold” because of its huge economic value in India’s textile industry. It not only supports millions of farmers but also contributes significantly to the national economy. However, cotton farming is not without challenges—farmers face pest attacks, rising input costs, changing weather patterns, and declining soil fertility.
In 2025, the solution lies in smart farming a mix of traditional wisdom and modern techniques. By adopting the right sowing practices, balanced fertilizer use, efficient weed management, and advanced pest control (especially against Gulabi Sundi / Pink Bollworm), farmers can achieve higher yield and maximum profit.
This article provides a step-by-step guide for Kapas Ki Kheti 2025, covering sowing methods, nutrient management, weed and disease control, and smart farming ideas.
Best Time and Method of Sowing Cotton
The success of Kapas Ki Kheti largely depends on choosing the right time and method of sowing. Cotton is a long-duration, warm-season crop, which means it requires a temperature range of 21–30°C for healthy germination and early growth. In South India, farmers can sow cotton twice a year—June to July with monsoon rains or October to November under irrigated conditions. For best results, seeds should be sown using a seed drill or dibbling method, ensuring proper seed placement and uniform germination. A spacing of 90–120 cm between rows and 45–60 cm between plants helps in better aeration, sunlight penetration, and intercultural operations. The seed rate varies with the type of cotton: 2–2.5 kg/acre for Bt cotton hybrids and 4–5 kg/acre for non-Bt varieties. To protect against seed- and soil-borne diseases, seeds must be treated with Trichoderma viride (5 g/kg) or Carbendazim (2 g/kg) before sowing.
Nutrient Management Manure and Fertilizer Application in Cotton
Cotton is a nutrient-demanding crop, and balanced fertilization is the key to achieving high yield and superior fiber quality. Farmers should always combine organic manure with chemical fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and crop health. Before sowing, 8–10 tons of well-decomposed farmyard manure (FYM) or compost per acre should be applied to enrich the soil with organic matter. Vermicompost at the rate of 1 ton/acre is also highly beneficial for improving soil aeration and microbial activity. Alongside organics, a calculated dose of fertilizers must be provided: 50–60 kg Nitrogen (N), 25–30 kg Phosphorus (P₂O₅), and 25–30 kg Potash (K₂O) per acre. This is equal to about 110–130 kg of Urea, 150–180 kg of Single Super Phosphate (SSP), and 50–60 kg of Muriate of Potash (MOP). Additionally, micronutrients like Zinc Sulphate (10 kg/acre) and Boron (1–2 kg/acre) play a crucial role in boll setting and fiber development. Fertilizer application should be done in three stages: a basal dose before sowing, a top dressing at 30–35 days after sowing (DAS), and the final dose at flowering stage (60 DAS).
Weed Control in Kapas Ki Kheti
Weed control is a critical step in Kapas Ki Kheti, as uncontrolled weeds can reduce cotton yield by 20–30% by competing with the crop for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Effective management requires a combination of manual, cultural, and chemical practices. For long-term benefits, mulching with black polythene sheets or crop residues like paddy straw is recommended, as it suppresses weed germination while conserving soil moisture. Chemical herbicides also play an important role: Pendimethalin (1 L/acre) is highly effective as a pre-emergence spray within 2–3 days of sowing, while Quizalofop-ethyl (400 ml/acre) or Glyphosate (800 ml/acre) may be used post-emergence to target grassy weeds—but glyphosate should be applied carefully, only in Bt cotton fields. Cotton, or Kapas, is India’s “white gold.” In 2025, farmers are shifting towards smart farming practices that combine traditional wisdom with modern innovations. These methods not only increase yield but also reduce costs and make farming more sustainable.
Soil Testing and Precision Farming
Healthy soil is the foundation of high cotton yields. Farmers should begin with soil health testing to know the exact nutrient requirements. Based on results, apply fertilizers in balanced quantities. Drip irrigation with fertigation is highly effective, saving 40–50% water and ensuring precise nutrient delivery to plants.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pest attack is one of the biggest threats in kapas farming. To minimize crop loss, adopt IPM practices like sowing resistant Bt varieties, using pheromone traps, releasing Trichogramma parasites, and spraying neem oil solutions. These reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and protect the environment.
Modern Machinery for Efficiency
Labor shortage and rising costs can be managed by using modern tools. Cotton planters, weeders, and drone sprayers not only save time but also ensure uniform operations in the field, giving farmers higher returns.
Climate-Smart Solutions
Unpredictable weather is a growing challenge. Climate-smart farming includes growing drought-tolerant cotton hybrids, using solar-powered pumps for irrigation, and installing IoT-based soil moisture sensors for efficient water use. These technologies help farmers adapt to climate change.
Crop Diversification for Soil Health
Instead of monocropping, intercrop cotton with soybean, pulses, or groundnut. This improves soil fertility, provides additional income, and reduces pest pressure naturally.Major Cotton Diseases and Their Managemen
a) Fusarium & Bacterial Wilt
- Symptoms: Yellowing, wilting, stunted growth.
- Control: Use resistant varieties, seed treatment, and avoid waterlogging.
b) Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV)
- Symptoms: Leaf curling, vein thickening, stunted plants.
- Control: Control whiteflies with Imidacloprid spray; choose tolerant hybrids.
c) Root Rot
- Symptoms: Blackened roots, sudden plant death.
- Control: Seed treatment with Carbendazim + Trichoderma.
d) Anthracnose
- Symptoms: Black spots on bolls and leaves.
- Control: Spray Mancozeb (2 g/L water).
5. Gulabi Sundi (Pink Bollworm) in Cotton Farming
About the Pest
- Scientific Name: Pectinophora gossypiella
- A devastating pest, causing major yield losses in Bt cotton regions like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana.
Damage Symptoms
- Boreholes on bolls.
- Flowers remain unopened (“rosette flowers”).
- Seeds destroyed from inside.
- Premature boll opening with poor fiber quality.
- Yield loss up to 40%.
Management (Integrated Pest Management – IPM 2025)
1. Seed & Resistant Varieties
Certified Bt seeds reduce pest risk. Treat seeds with Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 5 g/kg to protect seedlings from sucking pests and improve crop establishment.
2. Cultural Methods
Timely sowing, crop rotation with soybean/maize/pulses, and destroying stalks after harvest break pest cycles and lower pink bollworm infestation risk in kapas fields.
3. Pheromone Traps
Install 5–6 pheromone traps per acre to monitor pink bollworm activity. They also help trap male moths, reducing mating chances and suppressing population growth naturally.
4. Biological Control
Release Trichogramma chilonis @ 50,000/acre to parasitize eggs. Neem oil (2–3 ml/L) or NSKE 5% sprays act as natural repellents and insect growth regulators.
5. Chemical Sprays (ETL Based)
Apply chemicals only after ETL. Use Novaluron 10 EC (300 ml/acre), Emamectin Benzoate 5 SG (220 g/acre), or Spinosad 45 SC (80 ml/acre) for effective pink bollworm control.
6. Smart Technology
AI-based apps detect pest symptoms early, while drones enable uniform pesticide spraying across fields, reducing labor costs and improving crop protection efficiency.
6. Smart Farming Ideas for Kapas Ki Kheti 2025
a) Precision Farming
- Soil health testing → fertilizer application as per soil requirement.
- Drip irrigation + fertigation saves 40–50% water and fertilizer.
b) Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Reduce dependency on chemical pesticides.
- Use biological agents, pheromone traps, and resistant varieties.
c) Modern Machinery
- Use cotton planters, weeders, and drone sprayers.
- Reduce labor costs and increase efficiency.
d) Climate-Smart Farming
- Adopt drought-tolerant hybrids.
- Use solar pumps, IoT-based soil moisture sensors.
e) Crop Diversification
- Intercrop cotton with soybean, pulses, or groundnut.
- Improves soil fertility and reduces pest pressure.
Final thought
Kapas Ki Kheti in 2025 is not just about growing cotton it’s about growing it smarter. With rising challenges like pests (especially Gulabi Sundi), climate change, and increasing costs, farmers must adopt smart farming practices. By following the right sowing time, balanced nutrient management, weed and disease control, and advanced pest management strategies, cotton farmers can achieve higher productivity and better profits.