COTTON PLANT
If Nitrogen is given more, These plants keep growing taller and taller. If they grow beyond 15 knots (Kanu in Tamil), it is dangerous. This reduces flower production. So the tips of the branches should be cut off. This enables side branches to grow and result in more Cotton.
SHEDDING OF BLOOM – VRIKSHAYURVEDA
Flowers and young balls are often shed in Cotton crop due to high temperature. Approximately 50 ml of Castor oil should be poured near the stem in the soil. It will cool the soil. This practice is in use since time immemorial.
PLANTING SOYA BEANS
It can be grown as support crops with Sugarcane, Plantain, Turmeric, Cotton, Sweet Potato, Coconut and Maize. It yields just in 3 months. Its roots absorb Nitrogen from the atmosphere and add it to the soil.
CATERRPLLAR TREATMENT IN COTTON – VRIKSHAYURVEDA
Latex of Calatropis (Arka) should be diluted with 15 parts water and sprayed on the Cotton crop infested with caterpillar. This controls the pest in 3 days. The new growth after treatment is also free from infestation.
GREEN MANURE
Nothing can equal Kaaraamani (Tamil) in giving green manure to soil. It is a tasty, nutritious, protein food. It can withstand heat. It can be grown as a support crop with Cereals, Groundnut and Cotton.
REGROWING COTTON PLANT
Some farmers allow their Cotton plants to regrow after the harvest. Though they get extra income, a lot of insects and diseases attack them. So it is better to avoid it.
WARNING
The earth is depleted of its nutrients if it is grown on it for a long time. It can be reclaimed by growing Groundnut and Sweet Potato again.
TREE VARIETY – VRIKSHAYURVEDA
This trees will be destroyed if any Neem related water is poured to it. A variety of Cotton grows as a tree of 10 to 12 feet height. It gives Red colored flowers and vegetables.
INSECTICIDE EQUIVALENT TO ENDOSULPHAN
Some insects bore the stems and suck juice in Cotton plants. Garlic extract with water works equally like Endosulphon. Grind ½ kg. Garlic into a fine paste. Dissolve in 200 ml country alcohol or cow urine. Separately, grind 100g. Green Chillies and dissolve in 100 ml water. In a third vessel, grind 100g. Ginger and dissolve in 100 ml water. Leave everything overnight. Next day, mix them with 100 liters water and filter.
SUPPORT CROPS
Leave a gap of 50 cm between two Cotton plants. Pulses like Ragi, Groundnut, ThattaiPayaru, Greengram and Urad can be planted.
