A HIGH-YIELDING variety of cotton, with shorter duration and good quality fibre, has been developed by the scientists at the Cotton Breeding Station, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. The university recently released it for commercial cultivation as winter irrigated crop by the farmers.
Christened `MCU-13', this hirsutum type is a multi-cross derivative involving eight parents, and it matures in 150 days. It is highly suited for growing in the winter Cambodia tract of Tamil Nadu comprising Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Dindigul and Theni districts, according to the scientists.The new variety recorded an average seed cotton yield of 1735 kg per hectare, which is 20.2 per cent increase over MCU-5 (1444 kg per hectare) and 22.0 per cent more than that of LRA 5166 (1422 kg per hectare).
Its yield was 20 per cent more than that of MCU-12 (1445 kg per hectare). Its fibre quality was found superior to those of the ruling varieties. It had more ginning outturn and it had longer and stronger fibres than the others tested along with it in field trials. It is capable of spinning up to 50 counts.
Drought, pest tolerance
It exhibited drought tolerance and proved better in tolerating sucking pests and bollworm, and diseases such as Alternaria blight and grey mildew. This variety was tested in 130 locations including 121 trials under Adaptive Research Trials.
It recorded an average of above 22 quintals per hectare in Dindigul, Namakkal and Erode districts. It recorded the highest yield of 45 quintals per hectare in Namakkal district, according to the scientists.
The de-linted seeds should be sown at a spacing of 75 cm between rows and 30 cm within the rows in August-September. About 7.5 kg of seeds will be required to cover a hectare. Liberal quantities of farmyard manure and 500 kg of neem cake should be added as basal dressing along with 40 kg each of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. As top-dressing 40 kg of nitrogen should be added 45 days after sowing. The seeds should be treated with Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria mixed with rice gruel at 600 g per 7.5 kg seeds, and shade dried before sowing.
Raising a healthy crop
Integrated pest management should be adopted to stave off the major pests and the diseases can also managed by following eco-friendly disease management strategies. Regular weed management and irrigation schedule should be adopted to raise a healthy crop.
The terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15 th node should be nipped off 80 days after sowing to encourage lateral growth.
Picking should be done at weekly intervals. The harvesting should be done in the morning hours when there will be enough moisture preventing the dry leaves and bracts from sticking on to the seed cotton.
Only the seed cotton from well burst bolls should be picked and the good puffy seed cotton should be sorted out. The stained, discoloured and pest infested seed cotton should be kept separately, according to the scientists.
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