The Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) recommended extra care for cotton crops in August and September. In an interview with this scribe on Wednesday, CCRI Director Dr Zahid Mehmood stated that the cotton crop had reached the last stage of maturity and that blooms were fast turning into bowls.
He stated that the current stage requires greater attention so that farmers may maximise productivity. August is critical for the cotton harvest since it is the month with the quickest growing flowers and bolls, therefore farmers should apply nitrogen fertilisers to obtain a strong cotton output in August, he added.
Dr Zahid said farmers should use nitrogen fertilizers keeping in view the growth of the crop and fruits. He said zinc sulfate and boric acid sprays in case of deficiency symptoms appear to ensure significant increase in cotton production. In addition, farmers should carry out pest scouting twice a week on their crop during the wet season to prevent timely infestation of whiteflies.
