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VARIETY COTTON
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COTTON SEED CERTIFICATION
PROCEDURE
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SEED
CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
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VARIETY COTTON
I.Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification Standards.The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following specific standards constitute the standards for certification of cotton seed.
II. Land Requirements
Land to be sued for seed production of cotton shall be free of volunteer plants.
III. Field Inspection
A minimum of two inspections shall be made from the time crop approaches flowering until it is ready for harvesting.
IV. Field Standards
A.General requirements
1. Isolation
Cotton seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:
Fields of other varieties of same species including commercial hybrid of the same variety.
Fields of the same variety (code designation) not conferming to varietal purity requirements for certification.
Feilds of other varieties of different Spp.(different polydy levels)
Between blocks of the parental lines of the same hybrid.
B. Specific standards
* Maximum permitted at any inspection at and after flowering.
V. Seed Standards
Pure seed (minimum)
Inert matter (maximum)
Other crops seeds (maximum)
Weed seeds (maximum)
Germination (minimum)
Moisture (maximum)
For vapour-proof Containers (maximum)
VI. Ginnings
Ginning of seed cotton shall be done on the gins approved by the Certification Agency.
Certification shall be completed in six broad phases listed as under.
a. Receipt and scrutiny of application.
b. Verification of seed source, class and other requirements of the seed used for raising the seed crop. Seed source verification at the growers level before sowing in respect of Foundation class.
c. Field inspections to verify conformity to the prescribed field standards.
d. Supervision at post-harvest stages including processing and packing.
e. Seed sampling and analysis, including genetic purity test and/or seed health test, if any, in order to verify conformity to the prescribed standards, and
f. Grant of certificate and certification tags, tagging and sealing. Seeds of only those varieties, which are notified under section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966 shall be eligible for certification.
CLASSES AND SOURCES OF SEED
1. Breeder seed. 2.Foundation Seed and 3. Certified Seed.Breeder Seed:
Breeder seed is exempted from certification. However, the breeder seed crop is being inspected by a monitoring-team Breeder seed shall be genetically so pure as to guarantee that in the subsequent generation, i.e., foundation class seeds shall conform to the prescribed standards of genetic purity. The other quality factors of breeder seed such as physical purity, inert matter, germination etc., shall be indicated on the label on actual basis. The Breeder Seed shall be packed and supplied by the breeders in the form and manner indicated. Breeder seed shall not be used directly for producing certified class seed skipping foundation class.
Certified Seed:
Certified seed shall be the seed certified by Certification Agency notified under section 8 of the Seeds Act, 1966. Certified seed shall consist of two classes, namely,
a). Foundation class Seed. b). Certified class Seed.
Foundation Class Seed :
Foundation class seed shall be the progeny of Breeder seed, or be produced from foundation seed, which can be clearly traced to Breeder seed.
The production shall be supervised and approved by the Certification Agency and so handled to maintain genetic purity and physical purity and required to conform to certification standards. Thus, foundation seed can even be produced from foundation seed. During the production of Foundation seed, the following guidelines shall be observed.
a. Foundation class seed produced directly from Breeder seed
shall be designated as Foundation Seed Stage-1.
b. Foundation seed produced from Foundation Seed Stage-I
shall be designated as Foundation Seed Stage-II.
c. Foundation Seed Stage-II will not be used for further increase of Foundation Seed and shall be used only for production of Certified seed class.
d. Minimum Seed Certification standards shall be the same for both Foundation Seed Stage-I and Stage-II.
Certified class Seed:
Certified Class Seed shall be the progeny of Foundation Seed and its production shall be so handled as to maintain specific genetic identity and purity according to standards prescribed for the crop being certified.
COTTON - SEED STANDARDS FOR GENETIC PURITY
A. All certified seed lots should conform to the following minimum standards for genetic purity unless otherwise specified.
STANDARDS FOR MINIMUM GENETIC PURITY( % )
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
As per Seeds Act Section 9 (1), any person desirous of producing certified seed shall register his name with the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification duly remitting Rs.25/- (Rupees Twenty five only) per crop, per season and per Assistant Director of Seed Certification's Jurisdiction.
There are three seasons namely, khariff (June to September), Rabi (October to January) and Summer (February to May). For the purpose of registration the season refers to the date of sowing of the seed crop.
The applicant shall submit the application duly filled in duplicate to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned 10 days before the commencement of the proposed sowing season or atleast at the time of registration of sowing report.
Every accepted application is given an application number (e.g., Cot/Kh/G001/001/01-02: where "Cot" refers the crops to be registered, "Kh" the season, "G001"the producer code, "001" the serial number and "01-02" the seed certification year commencing from JUNE and ending in MAY).
The original application is retained and the duplicate is returned to the applicant within 10 days duly indicating the decision taken and application number.
Producers may remit application fee in a single payment for all crops and for all seasons in a certification year in which they have seed production programme. But separate applications shall be submitted in duplicate for each crop (covers all varieties) and for each season.
The application fee is not refundable after registration.
CERTIFIED SEED PRODUCER / GROWER
The term producer refers to a single person or a firm who / which organises seed farms of notified varieties, from approved sources, register for certification and abide by the rules and regulations of the Seed Certification Agency.
A producer may nominate one or more authorised organisers and may have or engage as many as cultivators or growers who actually do the work of seed production under the direct supervision of the producer him self or his authorised organisers.
SOURCE VERIFICATION FOR FOUNDATION CLASS SEED PRODUCTION
The producer shall apply to the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification for source verification at Growers level before sowing. The source verification certificate given by the seed Certification Officer concerned shall be enclosed along with the sowing report.
SOWING REPORT: (Application for the Registration of Seed farm)
The Seed Producer desirous of producing certified seeds shall apply to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned, who is the registering authority, in the prescribed sowing report form in quadruplicate with prescribed certification fees and other documents required to establish the seed source.
Separate sowing reports are required for different varieties, different classes, different stages and if the seed farm fields are separated by more than 50 meters and sowing or planting dates differ by more than 7 days and if the seed farm area exceeds 10 hectares (25 acres).
For those hybrid seed production plots for which female and male has to be planted separately, both female and male plots shall be planted providing required distance between them.
TIME LIMIT
The application shall contain all the information required and reach the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification within 35 days from the date of sowing.
FIELD AREA FOR CERTIFICATION
There is no minimum or maximum limit for the area offered by a producer for certification. Also there is no restriction on the location of the seed farm field except that Seed Certification Authority may refuse to entertain a sowing report for certification if the seed farm field is located in very remote places or in areas inaccessible for inspections.
VERIFICATION OF SEED SOURCE
The applicant shall enclose relevant documents such as certification tags, sale bill of the producer to seed grower, purchase bills, etc., as may be demanded by the certification authority to confirm the seed used for raising the seed crop has been obtained from an approved source and conforms to the provisions of the Seed Rules 6 (d) and 14. The growers consent shall be enclosed separately or shall be obtained in the sowing report itself. During the first inspection of seed farm by the Seed Certification Officer entrusted with the work will firmly verify, whether the seed used to raise the seed crops is from an approved source.
Normally, the seed rate recommended by the Department of Agriculture is followed for seed production. However, the registering authority has his discretion to accept lower seed rate based on the merit of the case. Normally, seeds with tags, which indicate expired validity period is not accepted as a source for registration.
Breeder seed alone can be used for raising seed farm, after the expiry of validity period up to a grace period of 4 months without seeking permission. Breeder seed can also be used after lapse of the grace period after testing in the Mini Seed Testing Laboratory working in the office of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification, observing the following procedures.
1. The sample will be drawn from the breeder seed bags with tag and seal intact.
2. Seed rate will be fixed by the Assistant Director of Seed Certification based on the results of MSTL.
3.The results may be communicated to the producer concerned marking a copy to the Director of Seed certification.
4. The copy of the result communicated by the Assistant Director of Seed Certification shall be enclosed along with the sowing reports.
5. Such sort of testing in the Mini Seed Testing Laboratory will be allowed only for a period of twentyone months from the date of initial test by the breeder.
6. The Breeder Seed so tested should be used within two months from the date of test and within the jurisdiction of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification where the seeds are tested in the Mini seed testing laboratory.
If the area inspected is more than the area registered then additional seed source should be produced before final inspection. The additional seed source should be collected in the following manner:
1. For Hybrids and Parents if the additional area inspected is more than 10 percent of the area registered or 0.25 Acre whichever is less.
2. For all other crops if the additional area inspected is more than 20 percent of the area registered or 0.50 Acre whichever is less.
However additional fees should be collected for any additional area and it should be paid before final inspection.
SEED BALANCE CERTIFICATE
While verifying the seed source, a balance certificate for the excess quantity of seed may be issued by the Assistant Director of Seed Certification on request of the producer. The seed balance certificate shall be prepared and issued as a single copy only.
MAP OF SEED FARM
The producer shall clearly indicate on the reverse of sowing report, the exact location of the seed farm in a rough sketch with direction, distances marked from a permanent mark like milestone, building, bridge, road, the name of the farm if any, crops grown on all four sides of the seed farm etc., to facilitate easy and correct identification.
SEED CERTIFICATION NUMBER
Each sowing report on acceptance is assigned with a Seed Certification Number serially from 1st April of every year. This number is represented with a code for the registration authority in the prefix and the year of registration in the suffix as given below: A/0160/99-00
The same number is noted in the tag as seed Certification Number at the time of tagging.
CERTIFICATION FEE
Along with the sowing report, the producer has to remit the field inspection charges and seed testing fees for seed testing in the laboratory and for Genetic purity test in the grow out test farm wherever genetic purity test is a pre requisite.
The fee is payable either as cash remittance at the Office of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification or as Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned in any Nationalised or Commercial Banks. The mode of payment should be indicated in the sowing report.
The inspection charges is collected for each acre of seed farm offered and seed analysis charge for a lot to be tested. For the purpose of collection of fee one acre or part of an acre in a sowing report is reckoned as one acre. The field inspection charges, seed testing fee and genetic purity test fee once remitted will not be refunded on any account.
TO WHOM SOWING REPORT TO BE SENT:
Registering authority after assigning the SC No. shall communicate one copy of the sowing report to the Seed Certification Officer concerned, one to the Deputy Director of Seed Certification of the region and the third to the Producer after retaining the fourth copy.
FIELD INSPECTION
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective in conducting field inspection is to verify those factors, which can cause irreversible damage to the genetic purity or seed health.
Field inspections ensure that steps necessary to overcome genetic and physical contamination have been taken in time to make them effective.
The objective of field inspection is fulfilled by verifying the seed crops in the following manner.
1.Raised from seed whose source is approved and which satisfy the requirements specified for purity.
2. Grown on a field, which satisfies the prescribed land requirement as to previous crop(s) to prevent contamination by volunteer plants and by disease spreading pathogens.
3. Provided with required isolation, roguing space and with recommended border rows wherever applicable in hybrid seed production.
4. Planted in the adopted ratio of female (Seed) and male (Pollinator) plants in seed production involving two parents.
5.Properly rogued to remove contaminating factors such as pollen shedders, shedding tassels in maize crosses, off types, diseased plants/ears, objectionable weeds and inseparable other crop plants so as to conform to the standards prescribed for these factors.
6.True to the varietal characteristics descriptive of that variety.
7.Harvested properly to avoid mechanical admixture.
8.Grown in compliance with other Special requirements for the crop Concerned.
The field observations made for these are compared with a set of prescribed norms called Minimum Seed Certification Standards, which are specific for each crop. The Minimum Seed Certification Standards specify the requirement for seed crop as to previous crops, isolation, varietal purity, other crop plants, and objectionable weeds and free from certain designated diseases. They also specify the requirements of seed lots for physical qualities including pure seed, inert matter, other crop seed, objectionable weed seed, and for germination, moisture, genetic purity and seed health.
FIELD INSPECTION
Normally verification of all the factors affecting seed quality in the field may not be possible in a single inspection. All the factors in the field may not be apparent or may not be capable of affecting seed quality at a particular stage of crop growth. Hence, in most crops more than one inspection, phased to cover all the important stages of the crop growth is necessary or required. The number of inspections and the stages of crop growth at which inspection should be conducted vary from crop to crop depending on duration, nature of pollination, susceptibility to contamination, disease susceptible stage(s), nature of the contaminating agents or factors, usual seed production procedures etc.
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS AND DATES.
The numbers of inspections given in the Minimum Seed Certification Standards are only Minimum. Any additional inspection at proper stage will be beneficial.
FIXING FIELD INSPECTION DATES
Immediately after registration, the Assistant Director of Seed Certification fixes the due dates for field inspection in the sowing report itself. However, the due dates for field inspection at flowering stage for cross pollinated crops and often cross pollinated crops shall not be noted in the producer copy of the sowing report.
FACTORS TO BE OBSERVED
Factors to be verified during the field inspections vary among crops and their growth stages. Basically inspection at different stages of crop growth serve the following specific purposes.
FIELD COUNTS
The very purpose of field inspection is to find out the field standards of various factors in the seed farm. It is impossible to examine all the plants in the seed farm. Besides, all the characters of the plant may not exhibit in a particular time. Hence, to assess the field standards of various factors an internationally accepted method of evaluation has been arrived at viz., 'Random counting'.
NUMBER OF PLANTS FOR A COUNT
Cotton 100 Plants
SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Several aspects determine seed quality. The contaminants are chiefly responsible for poor quality seeds. The contaminants can be classified as genetical and physical contaminants. Genetical contaminants consist of off-types, pollen shedders and shedding tassels. Physical contaminants are inseparable other crop plants, objectionable weed plants and diseased plants. Above mentioned sources of contaminants are discussed below.
Off-types
Off-type is a plant, which differs, in morphological characters from the rest of the population of a crop variety. Off-type does not confirm to the morphological characters as described by the breeder. Off-type may belong to same species or different species of a given variety. Off-types are easily identifiable as it deviates from the given set of morphological characters such as bulb, tuber, root features, plant, plant type, branching, pigmentation, mottling, hairiness, stem features, leaf shape and arrangement, colour, shape and size of flower and flower parts and colour, size and shape of fruit and seed or characteristics such as duration to flower and maturity, tillering, male sterility, resistance to diseases etc. Plants of a different variety are also included under off-types.
Volunteer plants and mutants are also off types. Male variants, female variants contaminantly sex expressing plants (i.e.) castor, Cucumber etc., are also treated as off types.
To designate a plant as an off type, tracing to any variety is not necessary. During field inspection, an offtype is counted irrespective of its growth stage. If the crop plants and offtypes differ so widely in growth stages and contamination is not possible at any stage, in that case, the producer should be informed for their removal.
SELFED BOLLS
In hybrid seed production of cotton, selfed bolls are treated as contaminants. Selfed bolls/fruits are the bolls/fruits in the seed parent developed from the flowers, which escaped crossing and developed by self-fertilization and improperly emasculated flowers.
Down grading:
If a seed field or seed lot is not found meeting prescribed standards for the class for which it has been registered but conforms to the prescribed standards to the immediate lower class, the Deputy Director of Seed Certification may accept such seed field/seed lot for certification to the immediate lower class on request by the producer. However, down grading of seed class shall not be applicable in case of hybrids and their parents.
Sealing
Seed Kapas from the seed farm growers should be moved to SPU/Ginning unit after sealing and marking within the stipulated period along with the processing report.
Withdrawal from certification
After registering a particular seed farm, the producer may withdraw from certification due to obvious reason at any stage. For such a withdrawal the following procedure shall be adopted.
1. Producer must give it in writing stating the reason for withdrawal, addressing to the ADSCN under intimation to SCO concerned for each S.C.No. Separately. On receipt of such request, the ADSCN has to intimate the SCO to stop further seed certification works with a copy to DDSCN.
2. On any case, partial withdrawal is not admissible.
3. For such withdrawal refund or adjustment of fee already remitted is not permitted.
4. The grower consent letter shall be accompanied with the request of the producer for withdrawal.
Assessment of selfed bolls in Hybrid cotton.
While inspecting the Hybrid cotton seed production plot, observation on selfed bolls have to be recorded in addition to routine factors. Selfed bolls includes bolls formed out of selfing, improperly emasculated flowers and open flowers. If the selfed bolls are more than 10 % in the final inspection field has to be recommended for rejection. In the second and third flowering inspections "warning" to remove the selfed bolls has to be given if the selfed bolls standard is more than 1 %.
The field rejected for the reason of selfed bolls may be permitted for reinspection if offered by the producer after removing the selfed bolls. The request for reinspection shall be made within 7 days from the date of receipt of LFR report. The reinspection fees has to be collected as per the procedure.
BULKING
Bulking of two or more unprocessed Cotton kapas may be permitted by the Seed Certification officer himself on request by the producer after verifying the merit of the cases. The permission given has to be informed to the Assistant Director of seed certification within Seven days from the date of permission. Bulking of Hybrids and Parent kapas lots of Cotton are not allowed. The bulked quantity of kapas should not exceed 200 quintals of kapas in Cotton.
The lots to be bulked shall meet the following requirements:
1. Belong to the same producer and grower
2. Belong to the same crop, variety and same class in the generation chain.
3. Have been produced in the same season, same village and under similar agro-climatic conditions.
4. Have been subjected to certification by the same certification officer.
5. Have more or less similar physical appearance and levels of moisture.
6. Have adequately homogeneous in composition.
7. Have been produced from the fields sown within a month.
The produce so bulked should be treated as a single lot for all further certification purposes. All the SC Nos, which have been bulked, should be mentioned while processing and tagging. If the bulked seed stocks have different months of harvests then the earliest month may be noted for the purpose of constructing lot numbers. For the purpose of calculating the period for moving the bulked stocks to SPU, the earliest date of harvest should be reckoned.
POST HARVEST OPERATIONS IN COTTON
Kapas Inspection
Kapas inspection is nothing but verification of seed kapas produced from the passed seed plot in the grower's premises. This has to be conducted by the Seed Certification Officer within 45 to 50 days from the date of final inspection.
During inspection, the SCO has to evaluate and assess the actual kapas available. This is considered as an additional inspection for cotton seed farms and should be reported in inspection report form.
Ginning of cotton kapas
The cotton kapas collected from cotton seed farm which passed the field standards have to be ginned at the approved ginning unit.
The seed kapas stored at growers premises should be moved to the Ginning unit after sealing along with the processing report within THREE months from the date of final inspection. The sealing details shall be sent to the concerned ADSC as indicated in para 33 of general guidelines.
If the kapas is not procured and moved to the ginning unit within THREE months from the date of final field inspection, it should be reported to the Assistant director of seed certification within FIVE days of expiry of stipulated time
Before commencing ginning of kapas, the gins have to be dismantled and thoroughly cleaned to avoid admixture of seeds.
The seed certification officer in the ginning unit should verify the stock on arrival and make necessary entries and permit for ginning. Further operations like cleaning and delinting shall be carried out in the same unit without further sealing and permission.
The SCO during the course of his tour will make frequent inspections and check the quality of ginning and cleaning and maintenance of lot identity. The immature seeds, ill-filled seeds, broken seeds, over fuzzy seeds and stained seeds shall not exceed 3 %.
Whenever there is a change of variety or class it is necessary to inspect the cleaning of the ginning machine by the concerned Seed certification officer.
The details of ginning are recorded in ginning register (Vide Annexure-XVII) and in the processing reports by the SCO.
If the seed lot is moved further for processing or cleaning to other units, necessary entries should be made in the concerned registers and processing report. The seed lot shall be sent to the required S.P.Unit duly after sealing the produce along with the PR.
Delinting
The ginned seeds may be delinted at the discretion of the producer. The delinting operation shall be carried out only in the approved seed processing unit. A separate register should be maintained for recording the delinting details. The cleaning and sampling should be completed within TWO months from the date of receipt of kapas in the ginning unit.
After processing and cleaning the producer should inform to the Assistant director of seed certification for sampling. The Assistant director of seed certification shall arrange for sampling within THREE days from the receipt of information.
Sampling shall be carried out by the Seed certification officer nominated by the Assistant director of seed certification along with the Seed certification officer in-charge of the unit.
Before sampling the Seed certification officers should ensure that the cleaning of cotton seeds were done by using appropriate sieves and the seed lot should not contain more than 3 % of immature seeds, ill filled seeds, broken seeds, stained seeds and over fuzzy seeds.
The Seed certification officer nominated by the Assistant director of seed certification shall draw seed sample for genetic purity and other tests in the presence of the Seed certification officer in-charge of the unit. Both the seed certification officers should sign in the unit register. The sample slip should be signed by the Seed certification officer who draws the sample.
The identity of seed lots should be maintained at all stages of processing. A stack card should be exhibited for every lot, indicating the seed certification number, crop, variety, class, quantity, number of bags and the stage of the seed lot. Such label should be available while processing, cleaning and delinting operations are in progress.
The tagging work shall be carried out after ensuring the laboratory test results for prescribed seed standards for Certified class seed lots. The tagging shall be carried out only after ensuring the Genetic purity test results in case of Foundation I and Foundation II class seed lots and hybrids along with other prescribed seed standards.
SEED PROCESSING
Seed processing involves cleaning, drying, grading, treating, testing and other operations, which will improve the physical and physiological quality of seeds. By seed processing the quality is upgraded by eliminating unwanted materials like weed seeds, small seeds, damaged seeds, broken and shrivelled seeds, straw, chaff, leaves, twigs, stones, soil particles, other crop seeds and seeds affected by insects and fungi etc.,
Pre-requisites for processing
1. The produce should be from the passed fields.
2. Processing report should accompany the seed lot.
3.. It should correlate with the Estimated yield.
4. The seed lot should be properly Sealed.
5. Seed should conform to the prescribed moisture level.
6. Field run seed should be brought to the processing unit in new containers.
7. The seed should be processed only in approved processing units.
8. Seed lots from fields, which conformed to the standards of seed certification at field level, shall as soon as possible after the harvest should be brought to the processing plant for processing.
9. The processing should be done in the approved seed processing units.
Assigning Lot Number
The lot number will have four parts. Each part will signify and conform to the details given as under:
An example is shown below:
Lot No: MAR 01 - 22 - 10 - 01 MAR 01 Seed harvested in Mar.2001 22-Seed crop raised in Tamil Nadu 10- Seed processed in a processing plant identified as number 10 by the Tamil Nadu State Certification Department. 01- Seed Produce Code which will trace to the particular unit of certification.
SEED SAMPLING
eager when compared to the lot size. So, every care should be taken to see that the sample sent for analysis is a true representative of the lot.
Submitted Sample
The quantity of composite sample drawn shall be sufficient to provide three samples of the size of submitted sample. The composite sample will be divided into three equal parts and one shall be sent for analysis to a notified Seed Testing Laboratory, the second part to the seed producer and retain the third part as a guard sample..
SENDING SEED SAMPLES
The seed certification officer who has taken sample shall send the same to the concerned ADSCN with the following details within 24 hours of sampling.
The sample shall be packed only in porous container like cloth bags.
However, for the purpose of testing moisture a separate sample shall be packed in moisture vapour proof container like polythene bag with airtight seal.
This sealed sample for moisture test shall be kept inside the sample bag itself.
A separate seed sample shall be drawn for Genetic purity test in case of Foundation I classes of variety cotton, hybrid cotton and its parents.
The seed samples for genetic purity test shall be sent to the Directorate of seed certification.
Communicating the results.
The STO will communicate the result to the ADSCN concerned.
On receipt of the analytical report the ADSCN will decode and communicate the result immediately to the producer and SCO concerned in the form prescribed.
BAGGING
The processed seed is packed straight away in the new containers in which it is ultimately sold or it may be held temporarily in large containers awaiting seed treatment and receipt of seed analysis report.
In any case, the container in which seed is finally offered for certification shall be of the size, shape, texture, colour, design, quality, type and material convenient to the producer except that it should be amenable to tagging and its quality should be appropriate for the moisture content of the seed.
The producer can display information on the container in the manner suited to him. The Seed Certification authority will verify that information. On one side of the container the emblem and details as prescribed by the department, may be printed in green colour only.
Seed producers should print TCS emblem besides crop, variety, lot number on the containers.
For stitching or closing the seed container, bag closer machines should be used. Hand stitching is not allowed.
The unit of packing should be the seed rate of half or one acre or one hectare.
TAGGING
1.After receiving the seed analytical reports and after receiving the tag the Seed Certification Officer must check the certification tags whether the tags received are according to the indent.
2. Check the lot concerned whether the processing label and seal are intact and quantity and quality of the lot.
3. The details may be filled up in the Tags without any omission and correction by printing. However if the number of Tags for a lot is below 50, details may be hand written.
4. Containers, Cloth bags, gunny bags must be new. The T.C.S. Emblem and relevant specifications shall be given on the container.
5. Along with certification tags Producer's label should be stitched.
6. Tagging should be completed within Two months from the date of test.
For lots subjected to genetic purity tagging should be completed within 30 days from the date of receipt of genetic purity test results by the producer.
VALIDITY
Normally the validity period shall be given for 9 months from the date of test for all the crop seeds.
REINSPECTION:
Seed fields not conforming to the prescribed standards for certification at any inspection, the seed certification officer shall, upon the request of producer and after he removes the sources of contamination in the seed field and in the field within the isolation distance and or the contaminated plants in the seed field, perform one or more re-inspections provided such removal can ensure conformity of the seed crop to the prescribed standards and provided further that no irreversible damage has been caused to the seed quality.
The SCO also perform one or more reinspections over and above the minimum number of inspections prescribed.
After removing the objectionable defects the producer shall apply to the concerned Deputy director of seed certification after remitting the prescribed fee, within 7 days from the date of L.F.R. inspection report. In anticipation of approval by the Deputy Director of Seed Certification, the Assistant Director of Seed Certification may permit for re inspection after collecting the required fees. For each reinspection 75% of the inspection charges for that crop is charged. To have effective and timely reinspection, SCO may take up reinspection after ascertaining the payment of reinspection fee. Two such reinspections shall be permitted.
REPROCESSING AND RESAMPLING
When a seed lot does not meet the prescribed seed standards in initial test on request of the producer, SCO may take resample upon the directions of the competent authority.
Only one such resampling is allowed for a lot with (or) without reprocessing based on the germination, moisture and physical purity percentage of the initial result.
The Assistant director of seed certification shall permit for one re sampling if the difference in germination between analysed and required is within 10 numbers. If the producer wishes reprocessing may be done.
If the difference in germination between analysed and required is more than 10 numbers but within 20 numbers, reprocessing and re sampling shall be done after obtaining permission from the Director of seed certification.
If the seed lot does not meet the prescribed physical purity / moisture standards in the initial test one resampling shall be done after obtaining permission from the Director of seed certification.
Resampling shall always be carried out by the Assistant director of seed certification concerned along with the concerned Seed certification officer.
Wherever a resampling is done the sample shall be tested for all the seed standards.
TIME LIMIT
The producer should request the concerned A.D.S.C. / D.S.C. in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of the result.
Resampling with or without reprocessing should be done within 20 days from the date of permission.
VALIDATION
The seed certification authority has no control over the seed lots after certification and it is the responsibility of the producer (or) the seller to keep the seed stock under controlled conditions so that the viability and the standards for which the seed lot is certified is maintained till the validity period is over.
As long as the seed is kept in unopened original container with certification tag and seal intact the genetic purity level will not normally alter. But physical purity, germination and moisture may alter due to various reasons including insect infestation. Increased seed moisture content may reflect in germination decline to various degrees.
Before expiry of the seed lot the producer shall apply for validation if he desire to have the seed lot validated for a further period of 6 months. He shall do so after stocking the seed lot in an approved SPU. The process of extension of validity is called "validation". For doing so, one has to apply and get permission from the Assistant Director of Seed Certification in whose area the seed lot is kept.
The Assistant Director of Seed Certification may accord permission to the applicant under intimation to the Deputy Director of Seed Certification for validation. The applicant must remit the prescribed fee to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification within 30 days from the date of permission. Then the Assistant Director of Seed Certification will issue instructions immediately to the concerned SCO to attend validation work.
The holder of the seed lot shall arrange lot wise in such a manner so as to maintain the lot identity and to ensure accessibility so as to facilitate sampling. He shall also ensure that all the containers in the lot are intact with certification tags and seals.
Within 10 days from the date of receipt of orders from the ADSCN, SCO will inspect the seed lots. He will verify the correctness of the seed lots and ensure whether all the containers have tags and seals intact. The seeds in tampered containers have to be rejected summarily from validation. He should further open certain containers at random and examine whether the seeds are affected by any pests or in deteriorated conditions. If the seeds are found to be in good condition, straight away he can draw a sample and send to ADSCN for analysis. In the sample slip it should be clearly indicated as 'VALIDATION SAMPLE' so as to enable the seed testing officer to test the sample for INSECT DAMAGES also besides all other tests.
On receipt of Seed Analytical Report, if the lot conforms to the prescribed standards, the SCO will extend the validity period by six months by stamping validation in the existing tags duly signed.
Validation Date of Test …
Valid up to …
SCO
The seed lot containers which were opened for examination and sampling will be attached with fresh tags.
If the seed lot have apparent or visible evidence of damage by insects for lots of foundation and certified seeds classes in excess of 1.0% for the seeds of maize and legumes and 0.50% for the seeds other than maize and legumes, processing should be done to improve the quality of seed. If necessary drying can also be done.
When all the seed containers are opened for processing / drying / etc., in such lots seed sample shall be drawn for GENETIC PURITY TEST also for foundation class and hybrids. In case of certified class all the operations shall be done in the presence of TWO Seed certification officers.
On receipt of seed analysis report, if the lot conforms to the standards, the holder of the seed lot will purchase fresh tags from the ADSCN on payment of cost. The SCO will issue the tags after filling the tags with details of initial tags, and extend the validity period by six months by stamping, Date of Test, Valid up to On the tags and affix his signature. If necessary fresh containers may be used.
THE TIME LIMIT IN VALIDATION
The validity period shall be given for a period of six months from the date of test.
COTTON
I Season and Varieties
Coimbatore,Erode,Madurai,
Dindigul,Theni
MCU5.MCU 5VT,MCU 9,MCU 11,Suvin,Jayalaxmi*,TCHB213*,HB224*,Savitha Dharmapuri
MCU5,MCU 11,Jayalaxmi*,TCHB 213*,
HB224*,Savitha
Salem,Namakkal MCU5,MCU9,MCU11,Suvin,Jayalaxmi*,HB224*,
TCHB 213*,Savitha
Cuddalore,Villupuram MCU5,MCU9,MCU 11,Jayalaxmi*,HB 224*,
TCHB 213*,Savitha
Erode MCU5,MCU 5VT,MCU9,MCU 11,Jayalaxmi*,
HB 224*, LRA 5166,TCHB 213*,SVPR2
Madurai,Dindigul,Theni MCU5, MCU 5VT,MCU 9, MCU 11, Jayalaxmi*.
HB 224*,LRA 5106, TCHB 213*,SVPR 1,
SVPR 2
Ramanathapuram,Virudhunagar,Sivagangai,
Thirunelveli, Thuthukudi.
MCU5, MCU9, Jayalaxmi*, TCHB 213*,
SVPR1,SVPR 2
Short duration (Jan-Feb)
Erode,Madurai,Dindigul,Theni,Ramanatha-
puramTiruchirapalli,Perambalur,Karur,Thanjavur
Tiruvarur,Nagapattinam,Cuddalore,Villupuram
MCU 7 Tiruchirapalli,Perambalur,Karur,Thanjavur
Tiiruvarur,Nagapattinam,Erode
LRA 5166 Madurai,Dindigul,Theni MCU 10,LRA 5166,K10,K 11 Dindigul Paiyur 1 Ramanathapuram,Virudhunagar,Sivagangai MCU 10,LRA 5166, K11,KC 2 Tirunelveli,Thoothukudi K9, K10, Paiyur 1, KC 2 Dharmapuri MCU 10,LRA 5166, Paiyur 1 Thanjavur,Tiruvarur,Nagapattinam, Parts of
Tiruchirapalli,Perambalur, Karur,Cuddalore and
Villupuram
ADT 1, MCU 7, SVPR 2 *Hybrid III.PREPARATION OF FIELD FOR IRRIGATED COTTON CROP
1. PREPARATION OF THE FILED
i) Prepare the field to get a fine tilth
ii) In garden lands, where ragi is the preceding crop and where ragi stubbles are still in the field, do not plough
iii)Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5M interval, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Apply 12.5 t farm yard manure of composted coir pith/ha besides chiselling to get an additional yield of about 30% over control
iv) If intercropping of Greengram/Soyabean is proposed, prepare the main field, so as to provide ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days prior to cotton sowing.
2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST
Spread 12.5t of FYM or compost per ha if available, uniformly on the unploughed soil.
3.APPLICATION OF Azozpirillum
Seed treatment with Azozpirillum at 3 packets (600g)per hectare and 2kg of Azozpirillum/ha mixed with 25kg FYM and 25kg of soil and applied on the seed line. This saves 25% nitrogen besides increasing yield.
4.FORMATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS
i) Form ridges and furrows 10 m long appropriate spacing depending upon the variety
ii) Use ridge plough or bund former to formridges so as to economise on cost of cultivation
iii) In fields with ragi stubbles, just dibble cotton seeds at the specified spacings
iv) Adopt the following spacing between ridges for different varieties/hybrids
MCU5,MCU9,MCU5VT,MCU11,SVPR1, LRA 5166
Jayalaxmi TCHB 213, HB 224 Suvin MCU 10 NOTE: Adopt higher spacing rows in fertile soils by 15 to 30 cm
5. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
I)Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations
ii) If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation for the different varieties.
MCU 7 MCU5,MCU5VT,MCU9,MCU11,Suvin Jayalaxmi,TCHB 213, HB 224 iii) If a heavily fertilised ragi crop precedes cotton crop, reduce the N recommendation by 25%
iv) If basal application could not be done, appl;y on the 25th day after sowing
v) Apply 50 per cent of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally for the normal crop. For Jayalaxmi, apply 1/3 nitrogen and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally. In this case it would be on 17-20 days
vi) Apply the fertilisers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge and incorporate.
vii)Application of Azospirillum saves 25% N requirement. Hence apply 45 to 90 kg N/ha depending on the variety/hybrid
6. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE
Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the department of Agriculture. Tamilnadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg for one ha.
7. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
Nitrogen deficiency: Yellowing and drying or firing of lower leaves. Plants light green-lower leaves yellow.
Phosphorus deficiency: Leaves dark green-Plnats dwarded-maturity delayed
Potassium deficiency: Leaves show yellowish - white mottling - changing to light yellowish green-yellow spots occur between veins, the centre of these die and numerous brown specks occur at tips and margins between veins-tips and margin curl downward -leaves finally become reddish brown.
Calcioum deficiency: Petioles bend and collapse - in seedlings there is collapse anddeath of primary nodule, terminal buds and portion of hypocotyl.
Zinc deficiency: General bronzing of the first three leaves pronounced interveinal chlorosis. The leaves become thick and brittle with their margin turn upward-shortened internodes-bushy appearance.
Sulphur deficiency:
The leaf blades become uniformly yellow or chlorotic - Old leaves as well as new leaves turn yellow
a)In the caseof Zincdeficient soils ZnSO4 @ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray thrice after 40th DOS
b) When reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4 Urea and ZnSO4 0.1% as foliar spray on 50th and 80th day to correct this malady.
IV.MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS
1. SEED RATE
Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids
MCU5,MCU9,MCU5VT,MCU7,MCU11 SVPR 2 KC 2 SUVIN Jayalaxmi, HB 224 TCHB 213 NOTE; Even good quality seeds give a germinationof only 60% So adopt a higher seed rate as above.
2.SPACING
In a pure crop of cotton, adopt the spacing as below for the different varieties
MCU5, MCU 5VT, MCU 9MCU1 11,LRA 5166, SVPR 2 KC2 SUVIN Jayalaxmi,HB 224,TCHB 213 MCU7, SVPR1, ADT 1 Closer spacing(120x45cm) and a fertilizer dose of 120-60-60 kg N, P2O5,K20/ha in DHB 105, DHH 11, HB 224, DCH 32 and TCHB 213 give higher seed cotton yield.
b) If cotton intercropped with other crops, onepaired row of cotton is alternated with three rows of intercrop and the total population of cotton crops ia mtintained at the same level as inthe case of pure crop
c) For intercropping with Greengram/Soyabean,complete sowing and irrigation 20 days prior tocotton sowing on oneside of the ridge.
Intercropping system incotton reduces the kapas and seed yield by 50% due to reduction in plant population. The reduction is more inalternate row system than in paired row system of intercropping. Among the companion crops, cowpea andsoyabeanhave a smothening effect on the base crop. The seeds from intercropping system deteriorated faster than counter part seeds of pure crop.
Within Paired row
MCU5,MCU9,MCU5VT,MCU11 SUVIN Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213 Plant 2 rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton
Blackgram Greengram Cowpea Soyabean For higher returns, advance sowing of either greengram or soyabean 20 days before sowing of cotton in winter season is ideal.
3.ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS
i)Choose either plastic bucket or enamel bucket for acid delinting of seeds
ii)Do not use earthen wares, metal vessels,porcelain wares or wooden drum for acid delinting as concentrated sulphuric acid will corrode them.
iii) Put the required quantity of seeds in the container and add commercial concentrated sulphuric acid at the rate of 100ml perkg of fuzzy seed
iv)Stir vigorously and continuously with a wooden stick for 2 to 3 minutes till the fuzz sticking to the seeds iscompletely digested and the seed coat attains a dark brown colour ofcoffee powder
v)Add water to fill the container. Drain the acid water and repeat thewashing4 or 5 times to remove any trace of acid
vi) Remove the floating, ill-filled,damaged, diseased and insect attacked seeds while retaining the healthy and good seeds which remain at the bottom
vii)Drain the water completely and dry the delinted seeds in shade
NOTE: Acid delinting has the following advantages:
i)Eliminates some externally seed borne pathogenic organisms
ii).Kills eggs, larvae and pupae of pink boll worm
iii)Helps to remove immature, ill-filled, cut and damaged seeds
iv)Makes seed dressing more effective and easy
v)Facilitates easy sowing
4A.PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEDS WITH FUNGICIDEDS
i) Treat the delinted seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed or with Carbendazim (or) Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents andthen with biofertilizers
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible
ii)Treat the delintedfungicide treatedseeds with 3 packlets (600g) of Azospirilluminoculant andsow immediately.
4B.SEED HARDENING
Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%) fior 8 hours anddry back to original moisture to increase germination and virour.
Seed pelleting: Seeds coated with arappu leaf powder (100g/kg) along with DAP (40g/kg) micronutrient mixture (15g/kg) and Azospirillum (200g/kg) using 5% maida solution or gruel as adhesive (300ml/kg) to increase the germination and vigour.
5.SOWING
i)Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3 cm in the furrows where fertilisers and insecticides are applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil
ii)In the case of intercropping,sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of cotton in a row of 5cm apart and cover the seeds
iii)Sow the required number of seeds in each hole
Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 All other varieties/hybrids
6.WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Apply any one of the following pre-emergence herbicides three days after sowing, using a hand operated sprayer filted with deflecting or fan type nozzle. Sufficient moisture should be present in the soil at the time of herbicides application or irrigate immediately after Fluchloralin application
ii)Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 2.2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha followed by one hand weeding on 35-40 days after sowing
NOTE: Do not use Diuron (Karmex)in sandy soil. Heavy rains after application of Karmex may adversely affect germination of cotton seeds
iii) Hoe and hand weed between 18th and 20th day of sowing, if herbicide is not applied at the time of sowing.
7. GAP FILLING
a. Take up gap fillingon the 10th day of sowing
i) In the case of Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213, raise seedlings inpolythene bags of size 15 cm x 10 cm
ii) Fill the polythene bags with a mixture of FYM and soil inthe ratio of1:3
iii) Dibble one seed per bag on the same day when sowing is taken up in the field
iv)Pot water and maintain
v) on the 10th day of sowing, plant seedings maintained in the polythene bags, one in each of the gaps in the field by cutting open the polythene bag and planting the seedling along with the soil intact and then pot water.
b.In the case of all other varieties, dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap and pot water
8. THINNING OF SEEDLINGS;
Thin out the seedlings on the 15th day of sowing. In the case of fertile soils, allow only one seedling per hole, whereasin poor soil allow two seedlings per hole.
9.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
1) Under normal culture:
Basal
(18 - 20 DAS)
Top Dressing
(40-45 DAS)
II Top Dressing
(60-65 DAS)
MCU7 MCU5,MCU5VT
,MCU9,
SUVUN,MCU 11
Jayalaxmi,HB 224,
TCHB 213
FYM enriched with Mussorie Rock Phosphate (MRP) @ 20 kg P2O5/ha and soil application of phosphobacterium @ 2.5 kg/ha along with 40kg N/ha as urea to enhance the yield.
ii)Application of fertilizers for Ragi stubble/dibbled cotton. If heavily fertilized ragi crop precedes cotton crop reduce the 'N' recommendation by 25%
Basal
(18 - 20 DAS)
Top Dressing
(40-45 DAS)
II Top Dressing
(60-65 DAS)
MCU7 MCU5,MCU5VT
,MCU9,
SUVUN,MCU 11
Jayalaxmi,HB 224,
TCHB 213
10. TOP DRESSING OF 'N' FERTILIZER
i) Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N on 40-45th day of sowing for cotton varieties
ii)Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45th day of sowing for hybrids
NOTE; In case of winter irrigated cotton, whenever the cotton is dibbled in ragi stubbles and also where the crop is sown with the receipt of rainfall and later converted into irrigated crop of in areas of water scarcity during the initial period, the basal application can be postponed to 25th day. In such cases, the full dose of phosphorus and potash with 25% Nitrogen can be applied on 25th day after sopwing (after 1st weeding) and top dressing can be given with the remaining 'N'viz.,50% at squaring stage (45 days after sowing) and another 25% of flowering (60th day)
iii) In the case of cotton dibbled in the ragi stubbles, top dress 20kg of 'N' per ha on 40-45th day of sowing
iv.In the case of hybrid cotton dibbled in the ragi stubble, top dress 30kg of N/ha on 40-45th day ofsowing.
11.RECTIFICATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS
Reform the ridges and furrows after first top dressing insuch way that the plants are on the top of the ridges and well supported by soil
12.SPRAYING OF NAPTHALENE ACETIC ACID (NAA)
Spray 40 ppm NAA on the crop to prevent early shedding of buds and squares and to increase the yield.
NOTE; 40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water will give 40 ppm
13.SECOND SPRAYING OF NAA
Spray 40 ppm on the crop for the second time one month after first spray to prevent shedding of buds and squares
14.ARRESTING TERMINAL GROWTH;
Nip the terminal portion of the main stem as indicated below:
For MCU5, MCU9 and MCU 11 nip the terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15th node (70-80 days after sowing) and for Suvin and Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 beyond the 20th node (90 days after sowing)
V.PEST MANAGEMENT
1. Remove cotton crop and dispose off the crop residues as soon as harvest is over
2.Avoid shaking of stalks in the field
3.Avoid Ratoon and double cotton crop
4.Adopt proper crop rotation.
5. Use optimum irrigation and fertilizers
6.Synchronise the sowing time inthe villages and complete the sowing with 10 to 15 days.Sow the seeds in paired rows.
7.Grow one variety throughout the village as far as possible
8.Intercropping with pulses viz. Cowpea, greengram, blackgram,Maiz, Castor,Sunflower,Marigold,Tomato, Chillies,Cumbu and soyabean to reduce the population of sucking pests of cotton, vz. aphid and leaf hopper. Again, the bollworm, incidence was low. Besides, the highest activity of natural enemies viz. spiders and predatory lady bird beetles Parasitoids are significant.
9.Timely earthing up and other agronomic practices should be done
10.Hand pick and burn periuodically egg masses, visible larvae, affected and dropped squares, flowers and fruits and squash pink bolworm in the rosettes.
11.Use locally fabricated light traps (modified Robinson type) with 125 Watt mercury lamps to determine the prevalence and insect population fluctuations.
12.The magnitude of the activity of the moths of the cotton pink bollworm, the cutworm (Spodoptera litura)and the American bollwork can be assessed by setting up thje species specific sex pheromone trap each at the rate of 12 per ha.
13.Apply Botanical insecticides only where it is absolutely necessary when pest population or damage reaches ET level
WHITEFLY IN COTTON
1. Avoid the alternate, cultivated host crops of the white fly in the vicinity of cotton crop
2.Growing cotton only once a year either inwinter or summer season in any cotton tract
3.Adopting crop rotation with non-preferred hosts such as Sorphum, Ragi, Maize, etc. for the white fly to check the build up of the pest
4.Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts like Abutilon indicum, Chrozophore rottlari, Solanum nigrum and Hisbiscus ficulensus from the fields and neighbouring areas and maintaining field sanitation.
5.Whitefly tolerant varieties like LPS 141 and Supriya may be tried.
6.Timely sowing with recommended spacing, preferably wider spacing and judicious application of recommended dose of fertilizers, particularly nitrogenous and irrigation management is essential to arrest the excessive vegetative growth and pest build up. Late sowing may be avoided and the crop growth should not be extended beyond its normal duration.
7.Field sanitation may be given proper attention.
8.Cultivation of most preferred alternate hose crops like brinjal,bhendi, tomato, tobacco and sunflower may be avoided. In case their cultivation is unavoidable, plant protection measures should beextended to these crops also.
9.Monitoring the activities ofthe adult white flies by setting up yellow pan traps and sticky traps at 1 foot height and also in situ counts.
10.Collection and removal of whitefly infested leaves from the plants and those which were shed due to the attack of the pest and destroying them.
11. As Cypermethrin, Fenvalerte and Deltamethrin cause resurgence of while flies they should not be used in Cotton system.
CHEMICAL CONTROL : There is no need for Chemicals to be used in Cotton Ecosystem.
Surface weevil: For the control of cotton surface weevil seed treatment with Neem Oil,Apply Neem cake to soil, Spray Neem kernal extract 5% at the youg e and soil around it.
VI. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
1.TOBACCO CUTWORM (Spodoptera litura)
a) Use of light trap to monitor and kill the attracted adult moths. Set up the sex pheromone trap Pherodin S.L. at 12/ha to monitor the activity of the pest.
b)Growing castor along border and irrigation bunds
c)Removal and destruction of egg masses in castor and cotton crops
d)Removal and destructionof early stage larvae found in clusters which can be located easily even from a distance.
e)Collection and destruction of shed materials
f)Hand picking and destruction of grown up caterpillars
g) Spraying Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus at 250 larval equivalent per ha.
2.STEM WEEVIL
i) Treat the seed with Neem Oil.
ii)Basal application of FYM 25t/ha or 250 kg/ha of neem cake.
iii)Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha or 350 kg/ha of neem cake
3.MANAGEMENT OF Helicoverpa armigera
a. Monitoring:
Pest monitoring through light traps, pheromone traps and in situ assessments by roving and fixed plot surveys has to be intensified at farm level, village level, block level, regional and State levels. For bollworm, H.armigera management, an action threshold of one egg per plantor 1 larva/plant may be adopted.
b. Cultural practices:
i)Sunchronised sowing of cotton preferably with short duration varieties in each cotton ecosystem.
ii)Avoiding continuous cropping ofcotton both during winter and summer seasons in the same areas as well as ratooning.
iii)Avoiding monocropping. Growing ofless preferred crops like greengram, blackgram, soytabean, castor, sorghum etc., alongwith the cotton as intercrop of border crop of alternate crop to reduce the pest infestation.
iv)Removal and destruction ofcrop residues to avoid carry over of the pest to the next season, and avoiding extended period of crop growth by continuous irrigation
v.Optimising the use of nitrogenous fertilisers which will not favour the multiplication of the pest.
vi.Judicious water management for the crop to prevent excessive vegetative growth and larval harbourage.
c.Biological control
i) Application of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) at 500 LE/ha in evening hours at7th and 12th week after sowing
ii)Conservation and augmentation of natural predators and parasites for effective control of the pest.
iii)Inundative release of egg parasite, Trichogramma spp. at 6.25 cc/ha at 15 days interval 3 times from 45 DAS egg-larval parasite, Chilonus blacksbumii and the predator Chrysoperia 1,00,000/ha at 6th, 13th and 14th week after sowing.
iv) ULV spray of NPV at 450 LE/ha with 10% cotton seed kernel extract. 10% crude sugar, 0.1% each of Tinopal and Teepol for effective control of Helicoverpa.
4.COTTON NEMATODES
Seed treatment with Marigold root extract and growing of the same as inter crop will take care of this pest.
IMPROVED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR HELICOVERPA NPV
Mass production of the hosts:Large scale culturing of Helicoverpa armigera is a primary requisite for the mass multiplication of NPV. The mass production technique is as follows:
Establishment of colony: The laboratory culture may be started from field-collected larvae of moths attracted to light traps. Field-collected larvae should be kept in quarantine to eliminate parasitized and diseased insects. The healthy larvae may be taken for pupation. These larvae can be reared on natural diet (soaked bengalgram seeds) or on semiksynthetic diet. The healthy pupae collected three to four days after pupation have to be washed in soap water and then immersed in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for one minute. Then the pupae should be washed in running water for 15 minutes. Those pupae after shade drying can be kept in sterilised vermiculite inside an adult emergence cage. Upon adult emergence, they must be provided with 10% sucrose solution, fortified with one drop of commercial multivitamin solution.
The adults can be sexed based on the colour of the scale. Males are plane greenish and females are chocolate brown. Five pairs of adults can be allowed in a wide mouthed plastic jar (15x20 cm) and the mouth covered with muslin cloth. Adult feed in penicillin vials with cotton wool must be provided daily.
Egg collection: The females begin to lay eggs from 3rd day onwards after emergence. These eggs must be collected daily and kept under saturated atmospheric humidity. This can be achieved by keeping the egg cloth in a plastic container and placing this container inside a bucket containing a little quantity of water and closed with a tight fitting lid.
The next day the egg cloth along with the eggs are sterilised in 10% formaldehyde fro 10 minutes and thereafter rinsed inrunning water for 15-20 minute. The egg cloth is then dried in shade.
Larval handling: When the larvae hatch, they canbe introduced into a container containing the semisynthetic diet.
COMPOSITION OF THE DIET
1 Bengalgram flour/kidney bean seeds soaked for 8 hours in water 2 Yeast 3 Wesson's salt mix 4 Agar agar 5 Methyl-para-hydroxybenzoate 6 Sorbic acid 7 Ascorbic acid 8 Choline chloride 10% 9 Streptomycin sulphate 10 Formaldehyde 40% 11 Vitamin solution 12 Distilled water 7 Preparation: Divide water into 2 halves. In one half add the flour/kidney bean seeds and autoclave at 15 Psi for 20 minutes. To the other half add agar agar and autoclave. Take the autoclaved flour/kidney bean in a waring blender and add yeast, Wesson's salt mix, methylparahydroxy bensoate and sorbic acid and blend for 2 minutes. Autoclaved agar agar cooled to 55 C may then be added and blended. Finally the other ingredients may be added one by one and blended thoroughly. The diet is semisolid condition can be poured in diet trays made of plastic (26.5 x 16 x 6.5cm)at 75g/tray. The tray should then be closed with lid provided with suitable ventilation. About 200 larvae can be accommodated in each tray and then larvae can be reared upto fourth instar.
Virus production: Once the larvae reach the fourth instar (head capsule width 1.45 mm)they can be used for virus produftion.
Virus feeding:Fourth instar larva are inoculated by dipping their heads in a suspension of NPV containing 6 x 10 POB/ml. The larvae are then transferred to individual vials containing semisynthetic diet. Five days after inoculation with the virus, the larvae dyingdue to virosis can be collected and suspended in distilled water. The virus can be purified as follows:
1. Grind the larvae with a pestle and mortar in minimum quantity of water.
2.Filter with muslin cloth. Discard the residue in muslin cloth
3.Centrifuge the suspension containing virus in two stages
i) At 500 RPM for 1 minute. The tissue debris will settle down. Discard it and use the supernatant in the subsequent stage.
ii. At 3000 RPM for 3 minutes the virus particles will settledown as a pellet. This pellet contain the virus
4.Standardisation of virus: The virus strength can be assessed with the help of a haemocytometer.
VII.DISEASE MANAGEMENT
seed treatment with Psudomonas Spp. and Spraying of 0.2% Psudomonas Spp. at apropreate stages will take care of all diseases.
VII.WATER MANAGEMENT
Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop.
Germination Phase : 1 to 15 days.
Vegetative Phase: 16 to 44 days
Flowering phase: 45 to 100 days for Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 and Suvin; 45 to 87 days forall other varieties
Maturity Phase:Beyond 100 days for Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213and beyond 88 days for all other varieties.
Germination Phase Irrigate germination Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing establishment Give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out Give a life irrigastion on 5th day ofsowingto facilitatethe seedlings to emerge out Vegetative Phase Regulate Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days after hoeing and weding Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day ofsowing,three days after hoeing and weeding Irrigate again onthe 35th or 36th day ofsowing Irrigate again on the 40th day ofsowing Flowering phase Irrigatecopiously Maturity Phase
NOTE: i) If irrigation is givenonclimatological approach, schedue theirrigation at 0.40 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively
ii) The irrigation schedule given above is obly a guideline and regulate the irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains.
iii) Adopt alternate furrow or skip furrow irrigation tosave irrigation water
The features of the methods are furnished below:
Skip furrow irrigation
a. Suited to heavy soilslike clay and loam
b. Alternate furrows should be skipped and may be converted to ridges having a wide bed formation.
c. Short term crops like pulses may be raised in wider bed without exclusive irrigation
d.Water saving is 50% when compared to control
Alternate furrow irrigation
a. During any one run of irrigation a particular set of alternatefurrows is irrigated.
b. The interval of irrigation should be shortened when compared to the conventional furrows
c. During the nextrun, the left over furrows be irrigated.
X. HARVESTING
a. Harvest at frequent intervals, at less than 7 days interval between each harvest.
b. Harvest in the morning hours upto 10 to 11 a.m. only when there is moisture so that dry leaves and bracts do not stick to the kapas and lower the market value.
c. Pick kapas from well burst boils only
d. Remove only the kapas from the boils and leave the bracts on the plants
e. As kapas is picked, sort out good puffy ones and keep separately
f. Keep stained, discoloured and insect attacked kapas separately.
NOTE; Do not mix stained, discoloured and insect damaged kapas with goodf kapas, as they will spoil the good kapas also and lower the market value of the produce.
X.POST HARVEST OPERATIONS
1) Immediately after picking, dry the kapas in shade. If it is not dried immediately the colour will change which will lower the market value.
2. Do not dry the kapas under direct sun as the fibre strengthand luster will be lost.
3. Grade the kapas into good and second quality ones, if it is sortedout at the time of picking
4. Spread a thin layer of dry sand on the ground and keep the kapas overit. The dry sand will absorb moisture and prevent it from coming in contact with the kapas, as moisture will stain the kapas and lower its value.
RICE FALLOW COTTON
MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS
1.PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
i) If the soils is in waxy condition, instead of Zero tillage, the seed rows mayh be tilled and the seed dibbled in Virudhunagar district
ii) If the soil is dry and not in condition to take up sowing, let inwater and then allow the soil to dry till soil comes to waxy condition
iii) At the lower level of the field dig a trench 15cm wide and connect this trench to the outside channel to drain off the excess water
2.PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITHB FUNGICIDES
i) Same as for the irrigated crop
ii) Treat the acid delinted and fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600g) of Azozpirillum and sow immediately.
3.SOWING THE SEEDS
a)Seed rate (kg/ha) i) Fuzzy seed ii)Acid delinted b)Spacing (cm) i)Between rows ii)Between plants c)Number of seeds per hole i)Fuzzy seeds ii)Acid delinted d)Depth of sowing (cm)
4.FILLING UP GAPS
i) Fill up gaps on the 10th day of sowing
ii)Dibble 2 to 3 acid delinted seeds or 4 to 5 fuzzy seeds in the gaps inthe case of MCU 7 and ADT1 1
5.THINNING SEEDLINGS
i) Thin out seedlings on the 20th day of sowing
ii)Leave only onehealthy andvigorous seedling per hill
6.WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 48 EC 2.2l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha ensures weed free condition for 40-45 days. This should be followed by one hand weeding and earthing up during40-45 days. Fluchloralin need incorporation
ii) Take up hoeing and weeding 20 days after sowing
iii)Take up this operation when the top soil dries up and comes to proper condition
7.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
Old Delta
a) Apply NPK fertilisers as per soil test recommendations. Ifsoil test is not done following the blanket recommendation of 60:30:30 kg NPK/ha.
b)Apply half the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 30th and 35th day of sowing along the rows of cotton plants.
c) Apply the remaining N on 50-55th day of sowing
New Delta
a) Apply NPK fertilisers as per soiltest recommendationsand if not done,follow theblanketrecommendation of 60:30:30kg NPK/ha.
b) Apply one third the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 20thday of sowing.
c) Apply the fertiliser mixture in band along the rowand then coverwith soil
d) Apply the remaining 2/3 ofN on 40th day of sowing in bands.
8.APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS
Apply basally 12.5kg/ha micronutrients mixture prepared by Department of Agriculture
9.FORMATION OF RIDGES
Old Delta
a) If soil is in condition, give a hoeingwith mammutti and form ridges and incorporate the fertilizer in the soil around the plants between the30th and35th day of sowing
b)If soil is not in condition, give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers.
c)If ridges and furrows are not formed at the time of first application of fertilizers form them at this time.
d)Form long ridges and furrows from oneend of the field to the other without forming any separate channels for carrying water to prevent excessive soaking of water.
e) Form ridges and furrows on alternate rows of plants. Skip furrow method of irrigation to prevent excessive irrigation
New Delta
a) Give a hoeing with mummutti andform ridges and incorporate the fertiliser in the soil around the plants on the 40th day of sowing.
b)If soil is not in condition give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers
c)Form long ridges and furrows on alternate rows of plants to adopt skip furrow irrigation.
Note: In case of zinc deficient soils application of ZnSO4 at 50 kg/ha is recommended.
10.APPLYING OF NAA
Spray 40 ppm of NAA (40mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water) at 40/45th day. The high volume spray liquid in 1125 l per ha. Repeat the same dose after 15 days of first spraying.
11. TOPPING:
Arrest terminal growth by nippingthe terminal 10-12th node for controlling excessive vegetative growth.
12.WATER MANAGEMENT
Regulate irrigation according to the growth phases of the crops.
1.Vegetative Phase Regulate irrigation during the germination phase One wetting on the 30th to 35th day oif sowing after the application of fertilisers One irrigation on the 20th day after the application of fertilisers .. One irrigation on the 40th day after the application of N 2.Flowering Phase Irrigate more frequently 3.Control irrigation during maturity phase Stop irrigation from the 113th day onwards
Note: 1)The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rains
2) Observe the crop and if the plants show wilting symptoms in the afternoon and in the evening hours, give an additional irrigation
13.Harvesting*
14.Post harvest operation*
15.Pest and disease management*
*As that of irrigated cotton
RAINFED COTTON
Follow water harvesting techniques and raise a successful crop of cotton
1.SEASON AND VARIETIES
For Thirumangalam in Madurai district, Sattur in Virudhunagar district and parts of Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, where the annual rainfall is 375 mm and most of it is received during September of first week of October, select MCU 10 or LRA 5166
In places where rains are received during October or November, select K9, K10. Select Paiyur 1 for Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts.
II.PREPARATION OF LAND FOR RAINFED COTTON
1.PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
i) Start preparation of the land immediately after harvest of the previous crop
ii)Adopt permanent broad ridges system
2.APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST
i) Spread 12.5 t on FYM or compost or composted coir pith per ha uniformly on the unploughed soil. Apply 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Azozpirillum inoculant plus 25 kg FYM plus 25 kg soil
ii)Incorporate the manure in the soil by working the multipurpose implement or country plough.
3.APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
i) Apply NPK fertilizers asper soil test recommendation as far as possible.
ii)If soil tests are not done, follow the blanket recommendations for the different varieties.
K9, K10, K 11 MCU 10 Paiyur 1 4.APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE
i) Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamilnadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg.
ii)Apply uniformly overthe furrows after sowing and cover the seeds
iii)Do not incorporate in the soil
5.SEEDS AND SOWING
i) Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids
K9, K10, K 11 MCU 10, LRA 5166, Paiyur 1 Note: Delint only MCU 10, LRA 5166 and Paiyur 1 seeds. Do not delint seeds of K9, K 10 & K 11
ii)In the case of mixed crop of cotton,maintaining the same seed rates as for a pure crop and adopt the following seed rate forthe pulses crop.
Blackgram/Greengram Cpwpea 6.SPACING:
i) In the case of pure crop of varieties/hybrids, a spacingof45cm betwene rows and 15cm between plants may be adopted.
ii)In the case of cotton,intercropped with pulses, one paired row ofcotton isalternated with two rows of pulses and the total population ofcotton crop ismaintained at the same lineasthat for a pure crop ofcotton.
K9,K10,K11,LRA 5166,Paiyur 1 iii) Adopt a spacingof 30 x 10 cm for the pulse crop inbetween each paired row ofcotton. APK 1Blackgram is best suited forthissituation
7.ACID DELINTING
Adoptprocedure foracid delintingas for an irrigated crop
8.PRETREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WSITH FUNGICIDES
Same as for the irrigated crop.
9.SOWING
i) Use the multipurpose farming implement to sow the seeds and toapply basal fertilizers simultaneously.
ii) Fill the hopper in the implement with the fertilizer mixtures and work the implement.
iii) Engage 3 persons for dropping the seeds, 2 for cotton and one for pulses. In one operation, pl;acement of fertilizer,. sowing of seeds and covering will be completed.
NOTE; Cottonand pulses can be sown at a depth of 5 cm in black cotton soil even before the onset of monsoon rains in dry bed sowing. When light rains are received, the moisture will not penetrate deeper and the seeds will not germinate and die away. Only when goodrains are received, the moisture level is sufficient to penetrate to the level ofthe seed and facilitate germinationand proper establishment.
10.APPLICATION OF INSECTICIDES
The control measures recommended for irrigated cotton will hold good. However, when water is not available, use any one of the following insecticides forthe control of boil worms at 25 kg/ha Endosulfan 4% D; Carbaryl 5% D and Phosalone 4% D.
11.WEED MANAGEMENT
Do hand weeding only.
12.GAP FILLING
Dibble 3 to 4 seeds ineach gap
13.THINNING SEEDLINGS
i) Allow two seedlings per hole and thinout on 15th day of sowing, adopting proper spacing between plants.
ii) Thin the pulse crop on the 20th day ofsowing, adopting a spacing of 15 cm between plants for cowpea and 10 cm for other pulse crop.
14.FOLIAR APPLICATION OF UREA
Spray 0.5% urea onthe 45th and 65th day of sowing. Spray Kaolin 3% twice at peak flowering boll formation stage for summer cotton.
15.INTERCULTIVATION WITH DHANTHULU/BLADE HARROW
Work dhanthulu or blade harrow on the 30th and 45th day of sowing.
NOTE: Other cultivation practices, plant protection measures, havest etc. arethe same as for the irrigated crop.
Reddening incotton and its correction:
Varieties of G.hirsutum and G.barbadense as well as hybrids manifest reddening of leaves. A combination of Magensium sulphate (5%), Urea (1%) and Zinc Sulphate (0.1%) as foliar sprays on 50th and 80th day corrects this malady. The sprays prevent further development of reddening.
SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. INFLUENCE OF SEASON ON SEED QUALITY
Germinationand vigour are better in seds fromwinter crop than from the summer crop
2.SPACING
A spacing of 90 x 60 cm may be given
3.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
(a) Soil application (kg/ha)
N P K i)Basal 35 35 35 ii)Top dressing (at the time of earthing up) 35 .. .. (b) Foliar Application
Apply Diammonium phosphate @ 1% strength three sprays on 70th, 80th and 90th day after sowing
NOTE: Five kg.of DAP should be soaked in 25 litres of water overnight and the supermatant liquid should be takenand mixed with 475 litres of water for spraying one hectare.
4.HARVESTING
i) Seed attains physiological maturity between 45-55 days after fertilization in different pickings.
ii) Burst kapas should be picked periodically in six pickings at weekly intervals. Retaining the kapas unpicked for morethan a week reduced seed quality
iii).Firstfive pickings in winter crop and first four pickings in the summer crop along should be taken for seed purpose because the seed from the subsequent pickings isinferior in quality.
iv) The cumulative percentage of recovery of seed from the first five pickingsinwinter and four pickings in summeris 90 and80 respectively.
v. The percentage of mature seed ranges from 72-93 in winter and 65-92 in summer
vi. The meandormancy in seeds is 23 days in winter and 64 days in summer at the time of picking which can be overcome by drying the kapas for 3-5 days
vii.The kapas should be dried inshade immediately after each picking for a period of 3-5 days to reduce the moisture content to 15-17% which isthe optimum rangefor ginning with minimum injury to the seed.
viii.Faulty ginning causes seed injury which may go upto 6.5%
ix. Immediately after ginning, the fuzzy seeds obtained should be air dried. If heaped, heating would cause loss in viability.
5.ACID DELINTING OF FUZZY SEEDS
i) Quantity of commercial sulphuric acid required is 100 ml/kg of seed
ii)Duration of treatment is 2-3 minutes.
iii) After acid treatment, the seed should bewashed thoroughly for 3 or 4 times with fresh water
iv. From the floaters, mature seeds without any visible damage canbe picked and added to the sinkers.
6.SEED YIELD
The mean seed yield may be around 1000kg/ha
7.SEED TREATMENT
Slurry treat the seeds with Captan @ 2g/kg of seed with 5 ml of wate rper kg of seed.
8.STORAGE
Treated seeds possessing about 7% moisture content can be stored in gunny bags for 24 months and in 700 gauge polythene bags for 30 months. The polythene bags should be heat sealed.
9.SEPARATION OF DEAD SEEDS
Stored fuzzy or delinted seedsor fresh seeds may be used to separate the dead seeds. Delinted seed may be soaked indouble the volume of water for 3 hours and subsequently air dried to original moisture of 7 per cent. The seeds may then put to potable water. The dead seeds tend to float the these may be removed.
10 MID STORAGE CORRECTION
Stored fuzzy and delinted seeds may be soaked for 2 and 1 hr respectively in double the volume of Disodium hydrogen phbosphate solution (3.59 g/100 lit. of water). The seeds are then air dried to original moisture content and seed treated.
11.PERFORMANCE OF AGED SEED
The productivity of seed decreased significantly with the period of storage. Hybrid seed production: Important steps involved in the commercial production of cotton hybrid are presented in bried for close follow up to ensure adequate quantity of seed of acceptable purity.
Preparatory tillage:
1. Plough the land 6" depth after the onset of monsson. Harrow three times and remove stubbles and trashes of previous crop. Prepare the landto fine tilth.
2.Open up ridges and furrows at a distance of 120 cm (4 ft.)
Manures and fertilisers
1. Apply 5 cart loads of FYM per 0.5 acre before opening upridges and furrows.
2.Apply 10 kg N (50 kg ammonium sulphate): 10 kg P2O5 (60 kg single super phosphate) and 5 kg K2O (16 kg of Muriate of potash) per 0.5 acre just before planting. Top dress at the rate of 5kg (25 kg ammonium sulphate) after 60 days and again after 90 days of planting.
Apply 50 kg/ha o fzinc sulphate to thesoil and apply as foliar spray at 0.5% concentration of ZnSO4 on 75 and 90days after sowing to increase the number of flowers per plant, pollen weight and pollen viability.
Seeds and sowing
1. Mend the ridges and furrows open at a distance of 4 feet. Apply 10:10:8 kgs of NPK along with 5 kg Disulfotone 5% or 4 kg Phorate 10% to the plot uniformly at the base of each ridge.
2. If the seed productionarea is 0.5 acre, female plant (laxmi) should be raised in 40 cents and male plant (SB 289-E) should be raised in 10 cents. Spacing for female 4'x2' and male is 2'x1 1/2'. The male should be sown 5 metre away from the female. In the case of TCHB 213 Hybrid seed production, female parent (TCH 1218) will be raised in 80 cents and the male plant(TCH 209) will be raised in 20 cents. Spacing for female paren t (TCH 1218) will be 4'x2' and for male parent (TCH 209) will be 3'x2'.
For the production of quality seeds of parental lines of hybrid TCHB 213 namely TCH 11218 (Female) and TCH 209 (Male) a spacing 75 x 45 cm and 90 x 45 cm for female and male parent along with a fertilizer schedule of 100:50:40 N, P2O5 and K2O/ha is optimum.
3. Seed required would be about 750 g of Laxmi and 300 g of SB 289-E. In the case of TCHB 213 hybrid seed production, seed required for female parent(TCH 1218) will be 800g and for male parent (TCB 209) will be 200 g.
4. Dibble Laxmi during third weekof August. male parent SB 289-E may be sown in three instalments. Sowing of first 1/3 area alongwith Laxmi, 2nd and 3rd 1/3 areas after 10 days and 20 days after Laxmi sowing.
In the case of TCHB 213 hybrid seed production, sow the seeds of male parent (TCB 209) on the 1st August andsow the seeds of female parent (TCH 1218) 10 to 15 days after sowing of male parent to synchronise flowering.
5. Irrigate immediately after sowing
6. Gap-fill if necessary on 10th day after sowing
7. Thinning may be done at 20-25 days after sowing to regulate one seedling/hill.
Top dressing
First top dress at 60 days and second top dress after 90 days after sowing at the rate of 5 kg N/acre (25 kg Ammonium sulphate)/plot with adequately earth up with first top dress. Application of 100 ppm of Boric acid improves pollen viability. Irrigate immediately after every top dressing.
Irrigation:
Irrigate the land once in 15-20 days depending on soil type and climatic condition. Heavy irrigations during crossing period should be avoided.
Weeding and intercultivation:
Hand weeding shouldbe done as and when required. Intercultivate 4-5 times during crop period to keep the plot clean.
Plant protection:
Important insect pests and diseases of crop are
Insect:
Jassids, Thrips, Aphids, Mites, Spotted boll worm, Pink boll worm, American Boll worm.
Diseases:
Black arm, Alternaria leaf spot, Herlminthosporium leaf spot.
Control:
As per the recommendations given above.
Foliar feeding:
Add 20 g DAP/litre spray fluid and give 4 such sprays for better development of crossed bolls during boll development period.
Steps necessary for efficiency in seed production
1. Emasculate and dust as far as possible all buds appearing during the first six weeks of reproductive phase to ensure good setting and devellopment of bolls.
2. Restrict your emasculation to each day evenings to 3 PM to 6 PM and pollination to morning between 10 AM to 1 PM to ensure highest purity of hybrid seeds. Emasculation should be complete and perfect.
3. Choose optimum size of bud and avoid too young or too old buds for emasculation
4. Cover the male buds with paper packets previous evening for their use next day.
5. Emasculated buds maybe covered preferably with buffer paper packets.
6. Do not forget to tie a thread to the pedicel of the bud immediately after pollination
7. Close your crossing programme after 9th week (from commencement of crossing) and remove all buds and flowers appearing subsequently to facilitate the development of crossed bolls.
8. Nip the top and side shoots at the stalks to stop further vertical and horizontal growth.
9. Light irrigations should be given as and when required. Excessive or scanty or inadequate irrigations should be avoided especially during crossing and boll development period.
10.Continue irrigation till last pick of the corssed bolls. Frequency of irrigation depends on weather factors like rainfall, temperature and wind velocity.
11.Pick up the ripe and completely opened bolls along with brackets and threads on and collect in baskets for second sorting. Boll swithout threads may be bulk harvested as Laxmi seed cotton.
12.Crossed bolls collected in baskets may be sorted out for second time to verify that they are crossed bolls. then collect the crossed seed cotton and store in gunny bags carefully marked as crossed bolls.
13.Rain touch cotton or hard locks should be picked and kept separately to avoid poor germination of hybrid seeds.
14.Store the crossed seed cotton in a cool dry place till it is handed over to processing unit.
15.Seed producers are required to keep a clear account of the cost of production of hybrid seed.
SEED CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES
Certification shall be completed in six broad phases listed as under.
a. Receipt and scrutiny of application.
b. Verification of seed source, class and other requirements of the seed used for raising the seed crop. Seed source verification at the growers level before sowing in respect of Foundation class.
c. Field inspections to verify conformity to the prescribed field standards.
d. Supervision at post-harvest stages including processing and packing.
e. Seed sampling and analysis, including genetic purity test and/or seed health test, if any, in order to verify conformity to the prescribed standards, and
f. Grant of certificate and certification tags, tagging and sealing. Seeds of only those varieties, which are notified under section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966 shall be eligible for certification.
CLASSES AND SOURCES OF SEED
1. Breeder seed. 2.Foundation Seed and 3. Certified Seed.Breeder Seed:
Breeder seed is exempted from certification. However, the breeder seed crop is being inspected by a monitoring-team Breeder seed shall be genetically so pure as to guarantee that in the subsequent generation, i.e., foundation class seeds shall conform to the prescribed standards of genetic purity. The other quality factors of breeder seed such as physical purity, inert matter, germination etc., shall be indicated on the label on actual basis. The Breeder Seed shall be packed and supplied by the breeders in the form and manner indicated. Breeder seed shall not be used directly for producing certified class seed skipping foundation class.
Certified Seed:
Certified seed shall be the seed certified by Certification Agency notified under section 8 of the Seeds Act, 1966. Certified seed shall consist of two classes, namely,
a). Foundation class Seed. b). Certified class Seed.
Foundation Class Seed :
Foundation class seed shall be the progeny of Breeder seed, or be produced from foundation seed, which can be clearly traced to Breeder seed.
The production shall be supervised and approved by the Certification Agency and so handled to maintain genetic purity and physical purity and required to conform to certification standards. Thus, foundation seed can even be produced from foundation seed. During the production of Foundation seed, the following guidelines shall be observed.
a. Foundation class seed produced directly from Breeder seed
shall be designated as Foundation Seed Stage-1.
b. Foundation seed produced from Foundation Seed Stage-I
shall be designated as Foundation Seed Stage-II.
c. Foundation Seed Stage-II will not be used for further increase of Foundation Seed and shall be used only for production of Certified seed class.
d. Minimum Seed Certification standards shall be the same for both Foundation Seed Stage-I and Stage-II.
Certified class Seed:
Certified Class Seed shall be the progeny of Foundation Seed and its production shall be so handled as to maintain specific genetic identity and purity according to standards prescribed for the crop being certified.
COTTON - SEED STANDARDS FOR GENETIC PURITY
A. All certified seed lots should conform to the following minimum standards for genetic purity unless otherwise specified.
STANDARDS FOR MINIMUM GENETIC PURITY( % )
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
As per Seeds Act Section 9 (1), any person desirous of producing certified seed shall register his name with the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification duly remitting Rs.25/- (Rupees Twenty five only) per crop, per season and per Assistant Director of Seed Certification's Jurisdiction.
There are three seasons namely, khariff (June to September), Rabi (October to January) and Summer (February to May). For the purpose of registration the season refers to the date of sowing of the seed crop.
The applicant shall submit the application duly filled in duplicate to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned 10 days before the commencement of the proposed sowing season or atleast at the time of registration of sowing report.
Every accepted application is given an application number (e.g., Cot/Kh/G001/001/01-02: where "Cot" refers the crops to be registered, "Kh" the season, "G001"the producer code, "001" the serial number and "01-02" the seed certification year commencing from JUNE and ending in MAY).
The original application is retained and the duplicate is returned to the applicant within 10 days duly indicating the decision taken and application number.
Producers may remit application fee in a single payment for all crops and for all seasons in a certification year in which they have seed production programme. But separate applications shall be submitted in duplicate for each crop (covers all varieties) and for each season.
The application fee is not refundable after registration.
CERTIFIED SEED PRODUCER / GROWER
The term producer refers to a single person or a firm who / which organises seed farms of notified varieties, from approved sources, register for certification and abide by the rules and regulations of the Seed Certification Agency.
A producer may nominate one or more authorised organisers and may have or engage as many as cultivators or growers who actually do the work of seed production under the direct supervision of the producer him self or his authorised organisers.
SOURCE VERIFICATION FOR FOUNDATION CLASS SEED PRODUCTION
The producer shall apply to the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification for source verification at Growers level before sowing. The source verification certificate given by the seed Certification Officer concerned shall be enclosed along with the sowing report.
SOWING REPORT: (Application for the Registration of Seed farm)
The Seed Producer desirous of producing certified seeds shall apply to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned, who is the registering authority, in the prescribed sowing report form in quadruplicate with prescribed certification fees and other documents required to establish the seed source.
Separate sowing reports are required for different varieties, different classes, different stages and if the seed farm fields are separated by more than 50 meters and sowing or planting dates differ by more than 7 days and if the seed farm area exceeds 10 hectares (25 acres).
For those hybrid seed production plots for which female and male has to be planted separately, both female and male plots shall be planted providing required distance between them.
TIME LIMIT
The application shall contain all the information required and reach the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification within 35 days from the date of sowing.
FIELD AREA FOR CERTIFICATION
There is no minimum or maximum limit for the area offered by a producer for certification. Also there is no restriction on the location of the seed farm field except that Seed Certification Authority may refuse to entertain a sowing report for certification if the seed farm field is located in very remote places or in areas inaccessible for inspections.
VERIFICATION OF SEED SOURCE
The applicant shall enclose relevant documents such as certification tags, sale bill of the producer to seed grower, purchase bills, etc., as may be demanded by the certification authority to confirm the seed used for raising the seed crop has been obtained from an approved source and conforms to the provisions of the Seed Rules 6 (d) and 14. The growers consent shall be enclosed separately or shall be obtained in the sowing report itself. During the first inspection of seed farm by the Seed Certification Officer entrusted with the work will firmly verify, whether the seed used to raise the seed crops is from an approved source.
Normally, the seed rate recommended by the Department of Agriculture is followed for seed production. However, the registering authority has his discretion to accept lower seed rate based on the merit of the case. Normally, seeds with tags, which indicate expired validity period is not accepted as a source for registration.
Breeder seed alone can be used for raising seed farm, after the expiry of validity period up to a grace period of 4 months without seeking permission. Breeder seed can also be used after lapse of the grace period after testing in the Mini Seed Testing Laboratory working in the office of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification, observing the following procedures.
1. The sample will be drawn from the breeder seed bags with tag and seal intact.
2. Seed rate will be fixed by the Assistant Director of Seed Certification based on the results of MSTL.
3.The results may be communicated to the producer concerned marking a copy to the Director of Seed certification.
4. The copy of the result communicated by the Assistant Director of Seed Certification shall be enclosed along with the sowing reports.
5. Such sort of testing in the Mini Seed Testing Laboratory will be allowed only for a period of twentyone months from the date of initial test by the breeder.
6. The Breeder Seed so tested should be used within two months from the date of test and within the jurisdiction of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification where the seeds are tested in the Mini seed testing laboratory.
If the area inspected is more than the area registered then additional seed source should be produced before final inspection. The additional seed source should be collected in the following manner:
1. For Hybrids and Parents if the additional area inspected is more than 10 percent of the area registered or 0.25 Acre whichever is less.
2. For all other crops if the additional area inspected is more than 20 percent of the area registered or 0.50 Acre whichever is less.
However additional fees should be collected for any additional area and it should be paid before final inspection.
SEED BALANCE CERTIFICATE
While verifying the seed source, a balance certificate for the excess quantity of seed may be issued by the Assistant Director of Seed Certification on request of the producer. The seed balance certificate shall be prepared and issued as a single copy only.
MAP OF SEED FARM
The producer shall clearly indicate on the reverse of sowing report, the exact location of the seed farm in a rough sketch with direction, distances marked from a permanent mark like milestone, building, bridge, road, the name of the farm if any, crops grown on all four sides of the seed farm etc., to facilitate easy and correct identification.
SEED CERTIFICATION NUMBER
Each sowing report on acceptance is assigned with a Seed Certification Number serially from 1st April of every year. This number is represented with a code for the registration authority in the prefix and the year of registration in the suffix as given below: A/0160/99-00
The same number is noted in the tag as seed Certification Number at the time of tagging.
CERTIFICATION FEE
Along with the sowing report, the producer has to remit the field inspection charges and seed testing fees for seed testing in the laboratory and for Genetic purity test in the grow out test farm wherever genetic purity test is a pre requisite.
The fee is payable either as cash remittance at the Office of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification or as Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned in any Nationalised or Commercial Banks. The mode of payment should be indicated in the sowing report.
The inspection charges is collected for each acre of seed farm offered and seed analysis charge for a lot to be tested. For the purpose of collection of fee one acre or part of an acre in a sowing report is reckoned as one acre. The field inspection charges, seed testing fee and genetic purity test fee once remitted will not be refunded on any account.
TO WHOM SOWING REPORT TO BE SENT:
Registering authority after assigning the SC No. shall communicate one copy of the sowing report to the Seed Certification Officer concerned, one to the Deputy Director of Seed Certification of the region and the third to the Producer after retaining the fourth copy.
FIELD INSPECTION
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective in conducting field inspection is to verify those factors, which can cause irreversible damage to the genetic purity or seed health.
Field inspections ensure that steps necessary to overcome genetic and physical contamination have been taken in time to make them effective.
The objective of field inspection is fulfilled by verifying the seed crops in the following manner.
1.Raised from seed whose source is approved and which satisfy the requirements specified for purity.
2. Grown on a field, which satisfies the prescribed land requirement as to previous crop(s) to prevent contamination by volunteer plants and by disease spreading pathogens.
3. Provided with required isolation, roguing space and with recommended border rows wherever applicable in hybrid seed production.
4. Planted in the adopted ratio of female (Seed) and male (Pollinator) plants in seed production involving two parents.
5.Properly rogued to remove contaminating factors such as pollen shedders, shedding tassels in maize crosses, off types, diseased plants/ears, objectionable weeds and inseparable other crop plants so as to conform to the standards prescribed for these factors.
6.True to the varietal characteristics descriptive of that variety.
7.Harvested properly to avoid mechanical admixture.
8.Grown in compliance with other Special requirements for the crop Concerned.
The field observations made for these are compared with a set of prescribed norms called Minimum Seed Certification Standards, which are specific for each crop. The Minimum Seed Certification Standards specify the requirement for seed crop as to previous crops, isolation, varietal purity, other crop plants, and objectionable weeds and free from certain designated diseases. They also specify the requirements of seed lots for physical qualities including pure seed, inert matter, other crop seed, objectionable weed seed, and for germination, moisture, genetic purity and seed health.
FIELD INSPECTION
Normally verification of all the factors affecting seed quality in the field may not be possible in a single inspection. All the factors in the field may not be apparent or may not be capable of affecting seed quality at a particular stage of crop growth. Hence, in most crops more than one inspection, phased to cover all the important stages of the crop growth is necessary or required. The number of inspections and the stages of crop growth at which inspection should be conducted vary from crop to crop depending on duration, nature of pollination, susceptibility to contamination, disease susceptible stage(s), nature of the contaminating agents or factors, usual seed production procedures etc.
NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS AND DATES.
The numbers of inspections given in the Minimum Seed Certification Standards are only Minimum. Any additional inspection at proper stage will be beneficial.
FIXING FIELD INSPECTION DATES
Immediately after registration, the Assistant Director of Seed Certification fixes the due dates for field inspection in the sowing report itself. However, the due dates for field inspection at flowering stage for cross pollinated crops and often cross pollinated crops shall not be noted in the producer copy of the sowing report.
FACTORS TO BE OBSERVED
Factors to be verified during the field inspections vary among crops and their growth stages. Basically inspection at different stages of crop growth serve the following specific purposes.
FIELD COUNTS
The very purpose of field inspection is to find out the field standards of various factors in the seed farm. It is impossible to examine all the plants in the seed farm. Besides, all the characters of the plant may not exhibit in a particular time. Hence, to assess the field standards of various factors an internationally accepted method of evaluation has been arrived at viz., 'Random counting'.
NUMBER OF PLANTS FOR A COUNT
Cotton 100 Plants
SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Several aspects determine seed quality. The contaminants are chiefly responsible for poor quality seeds. The contaminants can be classified as genetical and physical contaminants. Genetical contaminants consist of off-types, pollen shedders and shedding tassels. Physical contaminants are inseparable other crop plants, objectionable weed plants and diseased plants. Above mentioned sources of contaminants are discussed below.
Off-types
Off-type is a plant, which differs, in morphological characters from the rest of the population of a crop variety. Off-type does not confirm to the morphological characters as described by the breeder. Off-type may belong to same species or different species of a given variety. Off-types are easily identifiable as it deviates from the given set of morphological characters such as bulb, tuber, root features, plant, plant type, branching, pigmentation, mottling, hairiness, stem features, leaf shape and arrangement, colour, shape and size of flower and flower parts and colour, size and shape of fruit and seed or characteristics such as duration to flower and maturity, tillering, male sterility, resistance to diseases etc. Plants of a different variety are also included under off-types.
Volunteer plants and mutants are also off types. Male variants, female variants contaminantly sex expressing plants (i.e.) castor, Cucumber etc., are also treated as off types.
To designate a plant as an off type, tracing to any variety is not necessary. During field inspection, an offtype is counted irrespective of its growth stage. If the crop plants and offtypes differ so widely in growth stages and contamination is not possible at any stage, in that case, the producer should be informed for their removal.
SELFED BOLLS
In hybrid seed production of cotton, selfed bolls are treated as contaminants. Selfed bolls/fruits are the bolls/fruits in the seed parent developed from the flowers, which escaped crossing and developed by self-fertilization and improperly emasculated flowers.
Down grading:
If a seed field or seed lot is not found meeting prescribed standards for the class for which it has been registered but conforms to the prescribed standards to the immediate lower class, the Deputy Director of Seed Certification may accept such seed field/seed lot for certification to the immediate lower class on request by the producer. However, down grading of seed class shall not be applicable in case of hybrids and their parents.
Sealing
Seed Kapas from the seed farm growers should be moved to SPU/Ginning unit after sealing and marking within the stipulated period along with the processing report.
Withdrawal from certification
After registering a particular seed farm, the producer may withdraw from certification due to obvious reason at any stage. For such a withdrawal the following procedure shall be adopted.
1. Producer must give it in writing stating the reason for withdrawal, addressing to the ADSCN under intimation to SCO concerned for each S.C.No. Separately. On receipt of such request, the ADSCN has to intimate the SCO to stop further seed certification works with a copy to DDSCN.
2. On any case, partial withdrawal is not admissible.
3. For such withdrawal refund or adjustment of fee already remitted is not permitted.
4. The grower consent letter shall be accompanied with the request of the producer for withdrawal.
Assessment of selfed bolls in Hybrid cotton.
While inspecting the Hybrid cotton seed production plot, observation on selfed bolls have to be recorded in addition to routine factors. Selfed bolls includes bolls formed out of selfing, improperly emasculated flowers and open flowers. If the selfed bolls are more than 10 % in the final inspection field has to be recommended for rejection. In the second and third flowering inspections "warning" to remove the selfed bolls has to be given if the selfed bolls standard is more than 1 %.
The field rejected for the reason of selfed bolls may be permitted for reinspection if offered by the producer after removing the selfed bolls. The request for reinspection shall be made within 7 days from the date of receipt of LFR report. The reinspection fees has to be collected as per the procedure.
BULKING
Bulking of two or more unprocessed Cotton kapas may be permitted by the Seed Certification officer himself on request by the producer after verifying the merit of the cases. The permission given has to be informed to the Assistant Director of seed certification within Seven days from the date of permission. Bulking of Hybrids and Parent kapas lots of Cotton are not allowed. The bulked quantity of kapas should not exceed 200 quintals of kapas in Cotton.
The lots to be bulked shall meet the following requirements:
1. Belong to the same producer and grower
2. Belong to the same crop, variety and same class in the generation chain.
3. Have been produced in the same season, same village and under similar agro-climatic conditions.
4. Have been subjected to certification by the same certification officer.
5. Have more or less similar physical appearance and levels of moisture.
6. Have adequately homogeneous in composition.
7. Have been produced from the fields sown within a month.
The produce so bulked should be treated as a single lot for all further certification purposes. All the SC Nos, which have been bulked, should be mentioned while processing and tagging. If the bulked seed stocks have different months of harvests then the earliest month may be noted for the purpose of constructing lot numbers. For the purpose of calculating the period for moving the bulked stocks to SPU, the earliest date of harvest should be reckoned.
POST HARVEST OPERATIONS IN COTTON
Kapas Inspection
Kapas inspection is nothing but verification of seed kapas produced from the passed seed plot in the grower's premises. This has to be conducted by the Seed Certification Officer within 45 to 50 days from the date of final inspection.
During inspection, the SCO has to evaluate and assess the actual kapas available. This is considered as an additional inspection for cotton seed farms and should be reported in inspection report form.
Ginning of cotton kapas
The cotton kapas collected from cotton seed farm which passed the field standards have to be ginned at the approved ginning unit.
The seed kapas stored at growers premises should be moved to the Ginning unit after sealing along with the processing report within THREE months from the date of final inspection. The sealing details shall be sent to the concerned ADSC as indicated in para 33 of general guidelines.
If the kapas is not procured and moved to the ginning unit within THREE months from the date of final field inspection, it should be reported to the Assistant director of seed certification within FIVE days of expiry of stipulated time
Before commencing ginning of kapas, the gins have to be dismantled and thoroughly cleaned to avoid admixture of seeds.
The seed certification officer in the ginning unit should verify the stock on arrival and make necessary entries and permit for ginning. Further operations like cleaning and delinting shall be carried out in the same unit without further sealing and permission.
The SCO during the course of his tour will make frequent inspections and check the quality of ginning and cleaning and maintenance of lot identity. The immature seeds, ill-filled seeds, broken seeds, over fuzzy seeds and stained seeds shall not exceed 3 %.
Whenever there is a change of variety or class it is necessary to inspect the cleaning of the ginning machine by the concerned Seed certification officer.
The details of ginning are recorded in ginning register (Vide Annexure-XVII) and in the processing reports by the SCO.
If the seed lot is moved further for processing or cleaning to other units, necessary entries should be made in the concerned registers and processing report. The seed lot shall be sent to the required S.P.Unit duly after sealing the produce along with the PR.
Delinting
The ginned seeds may be delinted at the discretion of the producer. The delinting operation shall be carried out only in the approved seed processing unit. A separate register should be maintained for recording the delinting details. The cleaning and sampling should be completed within TWO months from the date of receipt of kapas in the ginning unit.
After processing and cleaning the producer should inform to the Assistant director of seed certification for sampling. The Assistant director of seed certification shall arrange for sampling within THREE days from the receipt of information.
Sampling shall be carried out by the Seed certification officer nominated by the Assistant director of seed certification along with the Seed certification officer in-charge of the unit.
Before sampling the Seed certification officers should ensure that the cleaning of cotton seeds were done by using appropriate sieves and the seed lot should not contain more than 3 % of immature seeds, ill filled seeds, broken seeds, stained seeds and over fuzzy seeds.
The Seed certification officer nominated by the Assistant director of seed certification shall draw seed sample for genetic purity and other tests in the presence of the Seed certification officer in-charge of the unit. Both the seed certification officers should sign in the unit register. The sample slip should be signed by the Seed certification officer who draws the sample.
The identity of seed lots should be maintained at all stages of processing. A stack card should be exhibited for every lot, indicating the seed certification number, crop, variety, class, quantity, number of bags and the stage of the seed lot. Such label should be available while processing, cleaning and delinting operations are in progress.
The tagging work shall be carried out after ensuring the laboratory test results for prescribed seed standards for Certified class seed lots. The tagging shall be carried out only after ensuring the Genetic purity test results in case of Foundation I and Foundation II class seed lots and hybrids along with other prescribed seed standards.
SEED PROCESSING
Seed processing involves cleaning, drying, grading, treating, testing and other operations, which will improve the physical and physiological quality of seeds. By seed processing the quality is upgraded by eliminating unwanted materials like weed seeds, small seeds, damaged seeds, broken and shrivelled seeds, straw, chaff, leaves, twigs, stones, soil particles, other crop seeds and seeds affected by insects and fungi etc.,
Pre-requisites for processing
1. The produce should be from the passed fields.
2. Processing report should accompany the seed lot.
3.. It should correlate with the Estimated yield.
4. The seed lot should be properly Sealed.
5. Seed should conform to the prescribed moisture level.
6. Field run seed should be brought to the processing unit in new containers.
7. The seed should be processed only in approved processing units.
8. Seed lots from fields, which conformed to the standards of seed certification at field level, shall as soon as possible after the harvest should be brought to the processing plant for processing.
9. The processing should be done in the approved seed processing units.
Assigning Lot Number
The lot number will have four parts. Each part will signify and conform to the details given as under:
An example is shown below:
Lot No: MAR 01 - 22 - 10 - 01 MAR 01 Seed harvested in Mar.2001 22-Seed crop raised in Tamil Nadu 10- Seed processed in a processing plant identified as number 10 by the Tamil Nadu State Certification Department. 01- Seed Produce Code which will trace to the particular unit of certification.
SEED SAMPLING
eager when compared to the lot size. So, every care should be taken to see that the sample sent for analysis is a true representative of the lot.
Submitted Sample
The quantity of composite sample drawn shall be sufficient to provide three samples of the size of submitted sample. The composite sample will be divided into three equal parts and one shall be sent for analysis to a notified Seed Testing Laboratory, the second part to the seed producer and retain the third part as a guard sample..
SENDING SEED SAMPLES
The seed certification officer who has taken sample shall send the same to the concerned ADSCN with the following details within 24 hours of sampling.
The sample shall be packed only in porous container like cloth bags.
However, for the purpose of testing moisture a separate sample shall be packed in moisture vapour proof container like polythene bag with airtight seal.
This sealed sample for moisture test shall be kept inside the sample bag itself.
A separate seed sample shall be drawn for Genetic purity test in case of Foundation I classes of variety cotton, hybrid cotton and its parents.
The seed samples for genetic purity test shall be sent to the Directorate of seed certification.
Communicating the results.
The STO will communicate the result to the ADSCN concerned.
On receipt of the analytical report the ADSCN will decode and communicate the result immediately to the producer and SCO concerned in the form prescribed.
BAGGING
The processed seed is packed straight away in the new containers in which it is ultimately sold or it may be held temporarily in large containers awaiting seed treatment and receipt of seed analysis report.
In any case, the container in which seed is finally offered for certification shall be of the size, shape, texture, colour, design, quality, type and material convenient to the producer except that it should be amenable to tagging and its quality should be appropriate for the moisture content of the seed.
The producer can display information on the container in the manner suited to him. The Seed Certification authority will verify that information. On one side of the container the emblem and details as prescribed by the department, may be printed in green colour only.
Seed producers should print TCS emblem besides crop, variety, lot number on the containers.
For stitching or closing the seed container, bag closer machines should be used. Hand stitching is not allowed.
The unit of packing should be the seed rate of half or one acre or one hectare.
TAGGING
1.After receiving the seed analytical reports and after receiving the tag the Seed Certification Officer must check the certification tags whether the tags received are according to the indent.
2. Check the lot concerned whether the processing label and seal are intact and quantity and quality of the lot.
3. The details may be filled up in the Tags without any omission and correction by printing. However if the number of Tags for a lot is below 50, details may be hand written.
4. Containers, Cloth bags, gunny bags must be new. The T.C.S. Emblem and relevant specifications shall be given on the container.
5. Along with certification tags Producer's label should be stitched.
6. Tagging should be completed within Two months from the date of test.
For lots subjected to genetic purity tagging should be completed within 30 days from the date of receipt of genetic purity test results by the producer.
VALIDITY
Normally the validity period shall be given for 9 months from the date of test for all the crop seeds.
REINSPECTION:
Seed fields not conforming to the prescribed standards for certification at any inspection, the seed certification officer shall, upon the request of producer and after he removes the sources of contamination in the seed field and in the field within the isolation distance and or the contaminated plants in the seed field, perform one or more re-inspections provided such removal can ensure conformity of the seed crop to the prescribed standards and provided further that no irreversible damage has been caused to the seed quality.
The SCO also perform one or more reinspections over and above the minimum number of inspections prescribed.
After removing the objectionable defects the producer shall apply to the concerned Deputy director of seed certification after remitting the prescribed fee, within 7 days from the date of L.F.R. inspection report. In anticipation of approval by the Deputy Director of Seed Certification, the Assistant Director of Seed Certification may permit for re inspection after collecting the required fees. For each reinspection 75% of the inspection charges for that crop is charged. To have effective and timely reinspection, SCO may take up reinspection after ascertaining the payment of reinspection fee. Two such reinspections shall be permitted.
REPROCESSING AND RESAMPLING
When a seed lot does not meet the prescribed seed standards in initial test on request of the producer, SCO may take resample upon the directions of the competent authority.
Only one such resampling is allowed for a lot with (or) without reprocessing based on the germination, moisture and physical purity percentage of the initial result.
The Assistant director of seed certification shall permit for one re sampling if the difference in germination between analysed and required is within 10 numbers. If the producer wishes reprocessing may be done.
If the difference in germination between analysed and required is more than 10 numbers but within 20 numbers, reprocessing and re sampling shall be done after obtaining permission from the Director of seed certification.
If the seed lot does not meet the prescribed physical purity / moisture standards in the initial test one resampling shall be done after obtaining permission from the Director of seed certification.
Resampling shall always be carried out by the Assistant director of seed certification concerned along with the concerned Seed certification officer.
Wherever a resampling is done the sample shall be tested for all the seed standards.
TIME LIMIT
The producer should request the concerned A.D.S.C. / D.S.C. in writing within ten days from the date of receipt of the result.
Resampling with or without reprocessing should be done within 20 days from the date of permission.
VALIDATION
The seed certification authority has no control over the seed lots after certification and it is the responsibility of the producer (or) the seller to keep the seed stock under controlled conditions so that the viability and the standards for which the seed lot is certified is maintained till the validity period is over.
As long as the seed is kept in unopened original container with certification tag and seal intact the genetic purity level will not normally alter. But physical purity, germination and moisture may alter due to various reasons including insect infestation. Increased seed moisture content may reflect in germination decline to various degrees.
Before expiry of the seed lot the producer shall apply for validation if he desire to have the seed lot validated for a further period of 6 months. He shall do so after stocking the seed lot in an approved SPU. The process of extension of validity is called "validation". For doing so, one has to apply and get permission from the Assistant Director of Seed Certification in whose area the seed lot is kept.
The Assistant Director of Seed Certification may accord permission to the applicant under intimation to the Deputy Director of Seed Certification for validation. The applicant must remit the prescribed fee to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification within 30 days from the date of permission. Then the Assistant Director of Seed Certification will issue instructions immediately to the concerned SCO to attend validation work.
The holder of the seed lot shall arrange lot wise in such a manner so as to maintain the lot identity and to ensure accessibility so as to facilitate sampling. He shall also ensure that all the containers in the lot are intact with certification tags and seals.
Within 10 days from the date of receipt of orders from the ADSCN, SCO will inspect the seed lots. He will verify the correctness of the seed lots and ensure whether all the containers have tags and seals intact. The seeds in tampered containers have to be rejected summarily from validation. He should further open certain containers at random and examine whether the seeds are affected by any pests or in deteriorated conditions. If the seeds are found to be in good condition, straight away he can draw a sample and send to ADSCN for analysis. In the sample slip it should be clearly indicated as 'VALIDATION SAMPLE' so as to enable the seed testing officer to test the sample for INSECT DAMAGES also besides all other tests.
On receipt of Seed Analytical Report, if the lot conforms to the prescribed standards, the SCO will extend the validity period by six months by stamping validation in the existing tags duly signed.
Validation Date of Test …
Valid up to …
SCO
The seed lot containers which were opened for examination and sampling will be attached with fresh tags.
If the seed lot have apparent or visible evidence of damage by insects for lots of foundation and certified seeds classes in excess of 1.0% for the seeds of maize and legumes and 0.50% for the seeds other than maize and legumes, processing should be done to improve the quality of seed. If necessary drying can also be done.
When all the seed containers are opened for processing / drying / etc., in such lots seed sample shall be drawn for GENETIC PURITY TEST also for foundation class and hybrids. In case of certified class all the operations shall be done in the presence of TWO Seed certification officers.
On receipt of seed analysis report, if the lot conforms to the standards, the holder of the seed lot will purchase fresh tags from the ADSCN on payment of cost. The SCO will issue the tags after filling the tags with details of initial tags, and extend the validity period by six months by stamping, Date of Test, Valid up to On the tags and affix his signature. If necessary fresh containers may be used.
THE TIME LIMIT IN VALIDATION
The validity period shall be given for a period of six months from the date of test.
COTTON
I Season and Varieties
Coimbatore,Erode,Madurai,
Dindigul,Theni
MCU5.MCU 5VT,MCU 9,MCU 11,Suvin,Jayalaxmi*,TCHB213*,HB224*,Savitha Dharmapuri
MCU5,MCU 11,Jayalaxmi*,TCHB 213*,
HB224*,Savitha
Salem,Namakkal MCU5,MCU9,MCU11,Suvin,Jayalaxmi*,HB224*,
TCHB 213*,Savitha
Cuddalore,Villupuram MCU5,MCU9,MCU 11,Jayalaxmi*,HB 224*,
TCHB 213*,Savitha
Erode MCU5,MCU 5VT,MCU9,MCU 11,Jayalaxmi*,
HB 224*, LRA 5166,TCHB 213*,SVPR2
Madurai,Dindigul,Theni MCU5, MCU 5VT,MCU 9, MCU 11, Jayalaxmi*.
HB 224*,LRA 5106, TCHB 213*,SVPR 1,
SVPR 2
Ramanathapuram,Virudhunagar,Sivagangai,
Thirunelveli, Thuthukudi.
MCU5, MCU9, Jayalaxmi*, TCHB 213*,
SVPR1,SVPR 2
Short duration (Jan-Feb)
Erode,Madurai,Dindigul,Theni,Ramanatha-
puramTiruchirapalli,Perambalur,Karur,Thanjavur
Tiruvarur,Nagapattinam,Cuddalore,Villupuram
MCU 7 Tiruchirapalli,Perambalur,Karur,Thanjavur
Tiiruvarur,Nagapattinam,Erode
LRA 5166 Madurai,Dindigul,Theni MCU 10,LRA 5166,K10,K 11 Dindigul Paiyur 1 Ramanathapuram,Virudhunagar,Sivagangai MCU 10,LRA 5166, K11,KC 2 Tirunelveli,Thoothukudi K9, K10, Paiyur 1, KC 2 Dharmapuri MCU 10,LRA 5166, Paiyur 1 Thanjavur,Tiruvarur,Nagapattinam, Parts of
Tiruchirapalli,Perambalur, Karur,Cuddalore and
Villupuram
ADT 1, MCU 7, SVPR 2 *Hybrid III.PREPARATION OF FIELD FOR IRRIGATED COTTON CROP
1. PREPARATION OF THE FILED
i) Prepare the field to get a fine tilth
ii) In garden lands, where ragi is the preceding crop and where ragi stubbles are still in the field, do not plough
iii)Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5M interval, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Apply 12.5 t farm yard manure of composted coir pith/ha besides chiselling to get an additional yield of about 30% over control
iv) If intercropping of Greengram/Soyabean is proposed, prepare the main field, so as to provide ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days prior to cotton sowing.
2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST
Spread 12.5t of FYM or compost per ha if available, uniformly on the unploughed soil.
3.APPLICATION OF Azozpirillum
Seed treatment with Azozpirillum at 3 packets (600g)per hectare and 2kg of Azozpirillum/ha mixed with 25kg FYM and 25kg of soil and applied on the seed line. This saves 25% nitrogen besides increasing yield.
4.FORMATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS
i) Form ridges and furrows 10 m long appropriate spacing depending upon the variety
ii) Use ridge plough or bund former to formridges so as to economise on cost of cultivation
iii) In fields with ragi stubbles, just dibble cotton seeds at the specified spacings
iv) Adopt the following spacing between ridges for different varieties/hybrids
MCU5,MCU9,MCU5VT,MCU11,SVPR1, LRA 5166
Jayalaxmi TCHB 213, HB 224 Suvin MCU 10 NOTE: Adopt higher spacing rows in fertile soils by 15 to 30 cm
5. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
I)Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations
ii) If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation for the different varieties.
MCU 7 MCU5,MCU5VT,MCU9,MCU11,Suvin Jayalaxmi,TCHB 213, HB 224 iii) If a heavily fertilised ragi crop precedes cotton crop, reduce the N recommendation by 25%
iv) If basal application could not be done, appl;y on the 25th day after sowing
v) Apply 50 per cent of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally for the normal crop. For Jayalaxmi, apply 1/3 nitrogen and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally. In this case it would be on 17-20 days
vi) Apply the fertilisers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge and incorporate.
vii)Application of Azospirillum saves 25% N requirement. Hence apply 45 to 90 kg N/ha depending on the variety/hybrid
6. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE
Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the department of Agriculture. Tamilnadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg for one ha.
7. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
Nitrogen deficiency: Yellowing and drying or firing of lower leaves. Plants light green-lower leaves yellow.
Phosphorus deficiency: Leaves dark green-Plnats dwarded-maturity delayed
Potassium deficiency: Leaves show yellowish - white mottling - changing to light yellowish green-yellow spots occur between veins, the centre of these die and numerous brown specks occur at tips and margins between veins-tips and margin curl downward -leaves finally become reddish brown.
Calcioum deficiency: Petioles bend and collapse - in seedlings there is collapse anddeath of primary nodule, terminal buds and portion of hypocotyl.
Zinc deficiency: General bronzing of the first three leaves pronounced interveinal chlorosis. The leaves become thick and brittle with their margin turn upward-shortened internodes-bushy appearance.
Sulphur deficiency:
The leaf blades become uniformly yellow or chlorotic - Old leaves as well as new leaves turn yellow
a)In the caseof Zincdeficient soils ZnSO4 @ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray thrice after 40th DOS
b) When reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4 Urea and ZnSO4 0.1% as foliar spray on 50th and 80th day to correct this malady.
IV.MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS
1. SEED RATE
Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids
MCU5,MCU9,MCU5VT,MCU7,MCU11 SVPR 2 KC 2 SUVIN Jayalaxmi, HB 224 TCHB 213 NOTE; Even good quality seeds give a germinationof only 60% So adopt a higher seed rate as above.
2.SPACING
In a pure crop of cotton, adopt the spacing as below for the different varieties
MCU5, MCU 5VT, MCU 9MCU1 11,LRA 5166, SVPR 2 KC2 SUVIN Jayalaxmi,HB 224,TCHB 213 MCU7, SVPR1, ADT 1 Closer spacing(120x45cm) and a fertilizer dose of 120-60-60 kg N, P2O5,K20/ha in DHB 105, DHH 11, HB 224, DCH 32 and TCHB 213 give higher seed cotton yield.
b) If cotton intercropped with other crops, onepaired row of cotton is alternated with three rows of intercrop and the total population of cotton crops ia mtintained at the same level as inthe case of pure crop
c) For intercropping with Greengram/Soyabean,complete sowing and irrigation 20 days prior tocotton sowing on oneside of the ridge.
Intercropping system incotton reduces the kapas and seed yield by 50% due to reduction in plant population. The reduction is more inalternate row system than in paired row system of intercropping. Among the companion crops, cowpea andsoyabeanhave a smothening effect on the base crop. The seeds from intercropping system deteriorated faster than counter part seeds of pure crop.
Within Paired row
MCU5,MCU9,MCU5VT,MCU11 SUVIN Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213 Plant 2 rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton
Blackgram Greengram Cowpea Soyabean For higher returns, advance sowing of either greengram or soyabean 20 days before sowing of cotton in winter season is ideal.
3.ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS
i)Choose either plastic bucket or enamel bucket for acid delinting of seeds
ii)Do not use earthen wares, metal vessels,porcelain wares or wooden drum for acid delinting as concentrated sulphuric acid will corrode them.
iii) Put the required quantity of seeds in the container and add commercial concentrated sulphuric acid at the rate of 100ml perkg of fuzzy seed
iv)Stir vigorously and continuously with a wooden stick for 2 to 3 minutes till the fuzz sticking to the seeds iscompletely digested and the seed coat attains a dark brown colour ofcoffee powder
v)Add water to fill the container. Drain the acid water and repeat thewashing4 or 5 times to remove any trace of acid
vi) Remove the floating, ill-filled,damaged, diseased and insect attacked seeds while retaining the healthy and good seeds which remain at the bottom
vii)Drain the water completely and dry the delinted seeds in shade
NOTE: Acid delinting has the following advantages:
i)Eliminates some externally seed borne pathogenic organisms
ii).Kills eggs, larvae and pupae of pink boll worm
iii)Helps to remove immature, ill-filled, cut and damaged seeds
iv)Makes seed dressing more effective and easy
v)Facilitates easy sowing
4A.PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEDS WITH FUNGICIDEDS
i) Treat the delinted seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed or with Carbendazim (or) Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents andthen with biofertilizers
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible
ii)Treat the delintedfungicide treatedseeds with 3 packlets (600g) of Azospirilluminoculant andsow immediately.
4B.SEED HARDENING
Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%) fior 8 hours anddry back to original moisture to increase germination and virour.
Seed pelleting: Seeds coated with arappu leaf powder (100g/kg) along with DAP (40g/kg) micronutrient mixture (15g/kg) and Azospirillum (200g/kg) using 5% maida solution or gruel as adhesive (300ml/kg) to increase the germination and vigour.
5.SOWING
i)Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3 cm in the furrows where fertilisers and insecticides are applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil
ii)In the case of intercropping,sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of cotton in a row of 5cm apart and cover the seeds
iii)Sow the required number of seeds in each hole
Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 All other varieties/hybrids
6.WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Apply any one of the following pre-emergence herbicides three days after sowing, using a hand operated sprayer filted with deflecting or fan type nozzle. Sufficient moisture should be present in the soil at the time of herbicides application or irrigate immediately after Fluchloralin application
ii)Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 2.2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha followed by one hand weeding on 35-40 days after sowing
NOTE: Do not use Diuron (Karmex)in sandy soil. Heavy rains after application of Karmex may adversely affect germination of cotton seeds
iii) Hoe and hand weed between 18th and 20th day of sowing, if herbicide is not applied at the time of sowing.
7. GAP FILLING
a. Take up gap fillingon the 10th day of sowing
i) In the case of Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213, raise seedlings inpolythene bags of size 15 cm x 10 cm
ii) Fill the polythene bags with a mixture of FYM and soil inthe ratio of1:3
iii) Dibble one seed per bag on the same day when sowing is taken up in the field
iv)Pot water and maintain
v) on the 10th day of sowing, plant seedings maintained in the polythene bags, one in each of the gaps in the field by cutting open the polythene bag and planting the seedling along with the soil intact and then pot water.
b.In the case of all other varieties, dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap and pot water
8. THINNING OF SEEDLINGS;
Thin out the seedlings on the 15th day of sowing. In the case of fertile soils, allow only one seedling per hole, whereasin poor soil allow two seedlings per hole.
9.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
1) Under normal culture:
Basal
(18 - 20 DAS)
Top Dressing
(40-45 DAS)
II Top Dressing
(60-65 DAS)
MCU7 MCU5,MCU5VT
,MCU9,
SUVUN,MCU 11
Jayalaxmi,HB 224,
TCHB 213
FYM enriched with Mussorie Rock Phosphate (MRP) @ 20 kg P2O5/ha and soil application of phosphobacterium @ 2.5 kg/ha along with 40kg N/ha as urea to enhance the yield.
ii)Application of fertilizers for Ragi stubble/dibbled cotton. If heavily fertilized ragi crop precedes cotton crop reduce the 'N' recommendation by 25%
Basal
(18 - 20 DAS)
Top Dressing
(40-45 DAS)
II Top Dressing
(60-65 DAS)
MCU7 MCU5,MCU5VT
,MCU9,
SUVUN,MCU 11
Jayalaxmi,HB 224,
TCHB 213
10. TOP DRESSING OF 'N' FERTILIZER
i) Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N on 40-45th day of sowing for cotton varieties
ii)Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45th day of sowing for hybrids
NOTE; In case of winter irrigated cotton, whenever the cotton is dibbled in ragi stubbles and also where the crop is sown with the receipt of rainfall and later converted into irrigated crop of in areas of water scarcity during the initial period, the basal application can be postponed to 25th day. In such cases, the full dose of phosphorus and potash with 25% Nitrogen can be applied on 25th day after sopwing (after 1st weeding) and top dressing can be given with the remaining 'N'viz.,50% at squaring stage (45 days after sowing) and another 25% of flowering (60th day)
iii) In the case of cotton dibbled in the ragi stubbles, top dress 20kg of 'N' per ha on 40-45th day of sowing
iv.In the case of hybrid cotton dibbled in the ragi stubble, top dress 30kg of N/ha on 40-45th day ofsowing.
11.RECTIFICATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS
Reform the ridges and furrows after first top dressing insuch way that the plants are on the top of the ridges and well supported by soil
12.SPRAYING OF NAPTHALENE ACETIC ACID (NAA)
Spray 40 ppm NAA on the crop to prevent early shedding of buds and squares and to increase the yield.
NOTE; 40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water will give 40 ppm
13.SECOND SPRAYING OF NAA
Spray 40 ppm on the crop for the second time one month after first spray to prevent shedding of buds and squares
14.ARRESTING TERMINAL GROWTH;
Nip the terminal portion of the main stem as indicated below:
For MCU5, MCU9 and MCU 11 nip the terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15th node (70-80 days after sowing) and for Suvin and Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 beyond the 20th node (90 days after sowing)
V.PEST MANAGEMENT
1. Remove cotton crop and dispose off the crop residues as soon as harvest is over
2.Avoid shaking of stalks in the field
3.Avoid Ratoon and double cotton crop
4.Adopt proper crop rotation.
5. Use optimum irrigation and fertilizers
6.Synchronise the sowing time inthe villages and complete the sowing with 10 to 15 days.Sow the seeds in paired rows.
7.Grow one variety throughout the village as far as possible
8.Intercropping with pulses viz. Cowpea, greengram, blackgram,Maiz, Castor,Sunflower,Marigold,Tomato, Chillies,Cumbu and soyabean to reduce the population of sucking pests of cotton, vz. aphid and leaf hopper. Again, the bollworm, incidence was low. Besides, the highest activity of natural enemies viz. spiders and predatory lady bird beetles Parasitoids are significant.
9.Timely earthing up and other agronomic practices should be done
10.Hand pick and burn periuodically egg masses, visible larvae, affected and dropped squares, flowers and fruits and squash pink bolworm in the rosettes.
11.Use locally fabricated light traps (modified Robinson type) with 125 Watt mercury lamps to determine the prevalence and insect population fluctuations.
12.The magnitude of the activity of the moths of the cotton pink bollworm, the cutworm (Spodoptera litura)and the American bollwork can be assessed by setting up thje species specific sex pheromone trap each at the rate of 12 per ha.
13.Apply Botanical insecticides only where it is absolutely necessary when pest population or damage reaches ET level
WHITEFLY IN COTTON
1. Avoid the alternate, cultivated host crops of the white fly in the vicinity of cotton crop
2.Growing cotton only once a year either inwinter or summer season in any cotton tract
3.Adopting crop rotation with non-preferred hosts such as Sorphum, Ragi, Maize, etc. for the white fly to check the build up of the pest
4.Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts like Abutilon indicum, Chrozophore rottlari, Solanum nigrum and Hisbiscus ficulensus from the fields and neighbouring areas and maintaining field sanitation.
5.Whitefly tolerant varieties like LPS 141 and Supriya may be tried.
6.Timely sowing with recommended spacing, preferably wider spacing and judicious application of recommended dose of fertilizers, particularly nitrogenous and irrigation management is essential to arrest the excessive vegetative growth and pest build up. Late sowing may be avoided and the crop growth should not be extended beyond its normal duration.
7.Field sanitation may be given proper attention.
8.Cultivation of most preferred alternate hose crops like brinjal,bhendi, tomato, tobacco and sunflower may be avoided. In case their cultivation is unavoidable, plant protection measures should beextended to these crops also.
9.Monitoring the activities ofthe adult white flies by setting up yellow pan traps and sticky traps at 1 foot height and also in situ counts.
10.Collection and removal of whitefly infested leaves from the plants and those which were shed due to the attack of the pest and destroying them.
11. As Cypermethrin, Fenvalerte and Deltamethrin cause resurgence of while flies they should not be used in Cotton system.
CHEMICAL CONTROL : There is no need for Chemicals to be used in Cotton Ecosystem.
Surface weevil: For the control of cotton surface weevil seed treatment with Neem Oil,Apply Neem cake to soil, Spray Neem kernal extract 5% at the youg e and soil around it.
VI. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
1.TOBACCO CUTWORM (Spodoptera litura)
a) Use of light trap to monitor and kill the attracted adult moths. Set up the sex pheromone trap Pherodin S.L. at 12/ha to monitor the activity of the pest.
b)Growing castor along border and irrigation bunds
c)Removal and destruction of egg masses in castor and cotton crops
d)Removal and destructionof early stage larvae found in clusters which can be located easily even from a distance.
e)Collection and destruction of shed materials
f)Hand picking and destruction of grown up caterpillars
g) Spraying Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus at 250 larval equivalent per ha.
2.STEM WEEVIL
i) Treat the seed with Neem Oil.
ii)Basal application of FYM 25t/ha or 250 kg/ha of neem cake.
iii)Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha or 350 kg/ha of neem cake
3.MANAGEMENT OF Helicoverpa armigera
a. Monitoring:
Pest monitoring through light traps, pheromone traps and in situ assessments by roving and fixed plot surveys has to be intensified at farm level, village level, block level, regional and State levels. For bollworm, H.armigera management, an action threshold of one egg per plantor 1 larva/plant may be adopted.
b. Cultural practices:
i)Sunchronised sowing of cotton preferably with short duration varieties in each cotton ecosystem.
ii)Avoiding continuous cropping ofcotton both during winter and summer seasons in the same areas as well as ratooning.
iii)Avoiding monocropping. Growing ofless preferred crops like greengram, blackgram, soytabean, castor, sorghum etc., alongwith the cotton as intercrop of border crop of alternate crop to reduce the pest infestation.
iv)Removal and destruction ofcrop residues to avoid carry over of the pest to the next season, and avoiding extended period of crop growth by continuous irrigation
v.Optimising the use of nitrogenous fertilisers which will not favour the multiplication of the pest.
vi.Judicious water management for the crop to prevent excessive vegetative growth and larval harbourage.
c.Biological control
i) Application of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) at 500 LE/ha in evening hours at7th and 12th week after sowing
ii)Conservation and augmentation of natural predators and parasites for effective control of the pest.
iii)Inundative release of egg parasite, Trichogramma spp. at 6.25 cc/ha at 15 days interval 3 times from 45 DAS egg-larval parasite, Chilonus blacksbumii and the predator Chrysoperia 1,00,000/ha at 6th, 13th and 14th week after sowing.
iv) ULV spray of NPV at 450 LE/ha with 10% cotton seed kernel extract. 10% crude sugar, 0.1% each of Tinopal and Teepol for effective control of Helicoverpa.
4.COTTON NEMATODES
Seed treatment with Marigold root extract and growing of the same as inter crop will take care of this pest.
IMPROVED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR HELICOVERPA NPV
Mass production of the hosts:Large scale culturing of Helicoverpa armigera is a primary requisite for the mass multiplication of NPV. The mass production technique is as follows:
Establishment of colony: The laboratory culture may be started from field-collected larvae of moths attracted to light traps. Field-collected larvae should be kept in quarantine to eliminate parasitized and diseased insects. The healthy larvae may be taken for pupation. These larvae can be reared on natural diet (soaked bengalgram seeds) or on semiksynthetic diet. The healthy pupae collected three to four days after pupation have to be washed in soap water and then immersed in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for one minute. Then the pupae should be washed in running water for 15 minutes. Those pupae after shade drying can be kept in sterilised vermiculite inside an adult emergence cage. Upon adult emergence, they must be provided with 10% sucrose solution, fortified with one drop of commercial multivitamin solution.
The adults can be sexed based on the colour of the scale. Males are plane greenish and females are chocolate brown. Five pairs of adults can be allowed in a wide mouthed plastic jar (15x20 cm) and the mouth covered with muslin cloth. Adult feed in penicillin vials with cotton wool must be provided daily.
Egg collection: The females begin to lay eggs from 3rd day onwards after emergence. These eggs must be collected daily and kept under saturated atmospheric humidity. This can be achieved by keeping the egg cloth in a plastic container and placing this container inside a bucket containing a little quantity of water and closed with a tight fitting lid.
The next day the egg cloth along with the eggs are sterilised in 10% formaldehyde fro 10 minutes and thereafter rinsed inrunning water for 15-20 minute. The egg cloth is then dried in shade.
Larval handling: When the larvae hatch, they canbe introduced into a container containing the semisynthetic diet.
COMPOSITION OF THE DIET
1 Bengalgram flour/kidney bean seeds soaked for 8 hours in water 2 Yeast 3 Wesson's salt mix 4 Agar agar 5 Methyl-para-hydroxybenzoate 6 Sorbic acid 7 Ascorbic acid 8 Choline chloride 10% 9 Streptomycin sulphate 10 Formaldehyde 40% 11 Vitamin solution 12 Distilled water 7 Preparation: Divide water into 2 halves. In one half add the flour/kidney bean seeds and autoclave at 15 Psi for 20 minutes. To the other half add agar agar and autoclave. Take the autoclaved flour/kidney bean in a waring blender and add yeast, Wesson's salt mix, methylparahydroxy bensoate and sorbic acid and blend for 2 minutes. Autoclaved agar agar cooled to 55 C may then be added and blended. Finally the other ingredients may be added one by one and blended thoroughly. The diet is semisolid condition can be poured in diet trays made of plastic (26.5 x 16 x 6.5cm)at 75g/tray. The tray should then be closed with lid provided with suitable ventilation. About 200 larvae can be accommodated in each tray and then larvae can be reared upto fourth instar.
Virus production: Once the larvae reach the fourth instar (head capsule width 1.45 mm)they can be used for virus produftion.
Virus feeding:Fourth instar larva are inoculated by dipping their heads in a suspension of NPV containing 6 x 10 POB/ml. The larvae are then transferred to individual vials containing semisynthetic diet. Five days after inoculation with the virus, the larvae dyingdue to virosis can be collected and suspended in distilled water. The virus can be purified as follows:
1. Grind the larvae with a pestle and mortar in minimum quantity of water.
2.Filter with muslin cloth. Discard the residue in muslin cloth
3.Centrifuge the suspension containing virus in two stages
i) At 500 RPM for 1 minute. The tissue debris will settle down. Discard it and use the supernatant in the subsequent stage.
ii. At 3000 RPM for 3 minutes the virus particles will settledown as a pellet. This pellet contain the virus
4.Standardisation of virus: The virus strength can be assessed with the help of a haemocytometer.
VII.DISEASE MANAGEMENT
seed treatment with Psudomonas Spp. and Spraying of 0.2% Psudomonas Spp. at apropreate stages will take care of all diseases.
VII.WATER MANAGEMENT
Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop.
Germination Phase : 1 to 15 days.
Vegetative Phase: 16 to 44 days
Flowering phase: 45 to 100 days for Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 and Suvin; 45 to 87 days forall other varieties
Maturity Phase:Beyond 100 days for Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213and beyond 88 days for all other varieties.
Germination Phase Irrigate germination Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing establishment Give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out Give a life irrigastion on 5th day ofsowingto facilitatethe seedlings to emerge out Vegetative Phase Regulate Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days after hoeing and weding Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day ofsowing,three days after hoeing and weeding Irrigate again onthe 35th or 36th day ofsowing Irrigate again on the 40th day ofsowing Flowering phase Irrigatecopiously Maturity Phase
NOTE: i) If irrigation is givenonclimatological approach, schedue theirrigation at 0.40 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively
ii) The irrigation schedule given above is obly a guideline and regulate the irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains.
iii) Adopt alternate furrow or skip furrow irrigation tosave irrigation water
The features of the methods are furnished below:
Skip furrow irrigation
a. Suited to heavy soilslike clay and loam
b. Alternate furrows should be skipped and may be converted to ridges having a wide bed formation.
c. Short term crops like pulses may be raised in wider bed without exclusive irrigation
d.Water saving is 50% when compared to control
Alternate furrow irrigation
a. During any one run of irrigation a particular set of alternatefurrows is irrigated.
b. The interval of irrigation should be shortened when compared to the conventional furrows
c. During the nextrun, the left over furrows be irrigated.
X. HARVESTING
a. Harvest at frequent intervals, at less than 7 days interval between each harvest.
b. Harvest in the morning hours upto 10 to 11 a.m. only when there is moisture so that dry leaves and bracts do not stick to the kapas and lower the market value.
c. Pick kapas from well burst boils only
d. Remove only the kapas from the boils and leave the bracts on the plants
e. As kapas is picked, sort out good puffy ones and keep separately
f. Keep stained, discoloured and insect attacked kapas separately.
NOTE; Do not mix stained, discoloured and insect damaged kapas with goodf kapas, as they will spoil the good kapas also and lower the market value of the produce.
X.POST HARVEST OPERATIONS
1) Immediately after picking, dry the kapas in shade. If it is not dried immediately the colour will change which will lower the market value.
2. Do not dry the kapas under direct sun as the fibre strengthand luster will be lost.
3. Grade the kapas into good and second quality ones, if it is sortedout at the time of picking
4. Spread a thin layer of dry sand on the ground and keep the kapas overit. The dry sand will absorb moisture and prevent it from coming in contact with the kapas, as moisture will stain the kapas and lower its value.
RICE FALLOW COTTON
MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS
1.PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
i) If the soils is in waxy condition, instead of Zero tillage, the seed rows mayh be tilled and the seed dibbled in Virudhunagar district
ii) If the soil is dry and not in condition to take up sowing, let inwater and then allow the soil to dry till soil comes to waxy condition
iii) At the lower level of the field dig a trench 15cm wide and connect this trench to the outside channel to drain off the excess water
2.PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITHB FUNGICIDES
i) Same as for the irrigated crop
ii) Treat the acid delinted and fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600g) of Azozpirillum and sow immediately.
3.SOWING THE SEEDS
a)Seed rate (kg/ha) i) Fuzzy seed ii)Acid delinted b)Spacing (cm) i)Between rows ii)Between plants c)Number of seeds per hole i)Fuzzy seeds ii)Acid delinted d)Depth of sowing (cm)
4.FILLING UP GAPS
i) Fill up gaps on the 10th day of sowing
ii)Dibble 2 to 3 acid delinted seeds or 4 to 5 fuzzy seeds in the gaps inthe case of MCU 7 and ADT1 1
5.THINNING SEEDLINGS
i) Thin out seedlings on the 20th day of sowing
ii)Leave only onehealthy andvigorous seedling per hill
6.WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 48 EC 2.2l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha ensures weed free condition for 40-45 days. This should be followed by one hand weeding and earthing up during40-45 days. Fluchloralin need incorporation
ii) Take up hoeing and weeding 20 days after sowing
iii)Take up this operation when the top soil dries up and comes to proper condition
7.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
Old Delta
a) Apply NPK fertilisers as per soil test recommendations. Ifsoil test is not done following the blanket recommendation of 60:30:30 kg NPK/ha.
b)Apply half the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 30th and 35th day of sowing along the rows of cotton plants.
c) Apply the remaining N on 50-55th day of sowing
New Delta
a) Apply NPK fertilisers as per soiltest recommendationsand if not done,follow theblanketrecommendation of 60:30:30kg NPK/ha.
b) Apply one third the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 20thday of sowing.
c) Apply the fertiliser mixture in band along the rowand then coverwith soil
d) Apply the remaining 2/3 ofN on 40th day of sowing in bands.
8.APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS
Apply basally 12.5kg/ha micronutrients mixture prepared by Department of Agriculture
9.FORMATION OF RIDGES
Old Delta
a) If soil is in condition, give a hoeingwith mammutti and form ridges and incorporate the fertilizer in the soil around the plants between the30th and35th day of sowing
b)If soil is not in condition, give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers.
c)If ridges and furrows are not formed at the time of first application of fertilizers form them at this time.
d)Form long ridges and furrows from oneend of the field to the other without forming any separate channels for carrying water to prevent excessive soaking of water.
e) Form ridges and furrows on alternate rows of plants. Skip furrow method of irrigation to prevent excessive irrigation
New Delta
a) Give a hoeing with mummutti andform ridges and incorporate the fertiliser in the soil around the plants on the 40th day of sowing.
b)If soil is not in condition give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers
c)Form long ridges and furrows on alternate rows of plants to adopt skip furrow irrigation.
Note: In case of zinc deficient soils application of ZnSO4 at 50 kg/ha is recommended.
10.APPLYING OF NAA
Spray 40 ppm of NAA (40mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water) at 40/45th day. The high volume spray liquid in 1125 l per ha. Repeat the same dose after 15 days of first spraying.
11. TOPPING:
Arrest terminal growth by nippingthe terminal 10-12th node for controlling excessive vegetative growth.
12.WATER MANAGEMENT
Regulate irrigation according to the growth phases of the crops.
1.Vegetative Phase Regulate irrigation during the germination phase One wetting on the 30th to 35th day oif sowing after the application of fertilisers One irrigation on the 20th day after the application of fertilisers .. One irrigation on the 40th day after the application of N 2.Flowering Phase Irrigate more frequently 3.Control irrigation during maturity phase Stop irrigation from the 113th day onwards
Note: 1)The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rains
2) Observe the crop and if the plants show wilting symptoms in the afternoon and in the evening hours, give an additional irrigation
13.Harvesting*
14.Post harvest operation*
15.Pest and disease management*
*As that of irrigated cotton
RAINFED COTTON
Follow water harvesting techniques and raise a successful crop of cotton
1.SEASON AND VARIETIES
For Thirumangalam in Madurai district, Sattur in Virudhunagar district and parts of Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, where the annual rainfall is 375 mm and most of it is received during September of first week of October, select MCU 10 or LRA 5166
In places where rains are received during October or November, select K9, K10. Select Paiyur 1 for Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts.
II.PREPARATION OF LAND FOR RAINFED COTTON
1.PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
i) Start preparation of the land immediately after harvest of the previous crop
ii)Adopt permanent broad ridges system
2.APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST
i) Spread 12.5 t on FYM or compost or composted coir pith per ha uniformly on the unploughed soil. Apply 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Azozpirillum inoculant plus 25 kg FYM plus 25 kg soil
ii)Incorporate the manure in the soil by working the multipurpose implement or country plough.
3.APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
i) Apply NPK fertilizers asper soil test recommendation as far as possible.
ii)If soil tests are not done, follow the blanket recommendations for the different varieties.
K9, K10, K 11 MCU 10 Paiyur 1 4.APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE
i) Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamilnadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg.
ii)Apply uniformly overthe furrows after sowing and cover the seeds
iii)Do not incorporate in the soil
5.SEEDS AND SOWING
i) Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids
K9, K10, K 11 MCU 10, LRA 5166, Paiyur 1 Note: Delint only MCU 10, LRA 5166 and Paiyur 1 seeds. Do not delint seeds of K9, K 10 & K 11
ii)In the case of mixed crop of cotton,maintaining the same seed rates as for a pure crop and adopt the following seed rate forthe pulses crop.
Blackgram/Greengram Cpwpea 6.SPACING:
i) In the case of pure crop of varieties/hybrids, a spacingof45cm betwene rows and 15cm between plants may be adopted.
ii)In the case of cotton,intercropped with pulses, one paired row ofcotton isalternated with two rows of pulses and the total population ofcotton crop ismaintained at the same lineasthat for a pure crop ofcotton.
K9,K10,K11,LRA 5166,Paiyur 1 iii) Adopt a spacingof 30 x 10 cm for the pulse crop inbetween each paired row ofcotton. APK 1Blackgram is best suited forthissituation
7.ACID DELINTING
Adoptprocedure foracid delintingas for an irrigated crop
8.PRETREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WSITH FUNGICIDES
Same as for the irrigated crop.
9.SOWING
i) Use the multipurpose farming implement to sow the seeds and toapply basal fertilizers simultaneously.
ii) Fill the hopper in the implement with the fertilizer mixtures and work the implement.
iii) Engage 3 persons for dropping the seeds, 2 for cotton and one for pulses. In one operation, pl;acement of fertilizer,. sowing of seeds and covering will be completed.
NOTE; Cottonand pulses can be sown at a depth of 5 cm in black cotton soil even before the onset of monsoon rains in dry bed sowing. When light rains are received, the moisture will not penetrate deeper and the seeds will not germinate and die away. Only when goodrains are received, the moisture level is sufficient to penetrate to the level ofthe seed and facilitate germinationand proper establishment.
10.APPLICATION OF INSECTICIDES
The control measures recommended for irrigated cotton will hold good. However, when water is not available, use any one of the following insecticides forthe control of boil worms at 25 kg/ha Endosulfan 4% D; Carbaryl 5% D and Phosalone 4% D.
11.WEED MANAGEMENT
Do hand weeding only.
12.GAP FILLING
Dibble 3 to 4 seeds ineach gap
13.THINNING SEEDLINGS
i) Allow two seedlings per hole and thinout on 15th day of sowing, adopting proper spacing between plants.
ii) Thin the pulse crop on the 20th day ofsowing, adopting a spacing of 15 cm between plants for cowpea and 10 cm for other pulse crop.
14.FOLIAR APPLICATION OF UREA
Spray 0.5% urea onthe 45th and 65th day of sowing. Spray Kaolin 3% twice at peak flowering boll formation stage for summer cotton.
15.INTERCULTIVATION WITH DHANTHULU/BLADE HARROW
Work dhanthulu or blade harrow on the 30th and 45th day of sowing.
NOTE: Other cultivation practices, plant protection measures, havest etc. arethe same as for the irrigated crop.
Reddening incotton and its correction:
Varieties of G.hirsutum and G.barbadense as well as hybrids manifest reddening of leaves. A combination of Magensium sulphate (5%), Urea (1%) and Zinc Sulphate (0.1%) as foliar sprays on 50th and 80th day corrects this malady. The sprays prevent further development of reddening.
SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. INFLUENCE OF SEASON ON SEED QUALITY
Germinationand vigour are better in seds fromwinter crop than from the summer crop
2.SPACING
A spacing of 90 x 60 cm may be given
3.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
(a) Soil application (kg/ha)
N P K i)Basal 35 35 35 ii)Top dressing (at the time of earthing up) 35 .. .. (b) Foliar Application
Apply Diammonium phosphate @ 1% strength three sprays on 70th, 80th and 90th day after sowing
NOTE: Five kg.of DAP should be soaked in 25 litres of water overnight and the supermatant liquid should be takenand mixed with 475 litres of water for spraying one hectare.
4.HARVESTING
i) Seed attains physiological maturity between 45-55 days after fertilization in different pickings.
ii) Burst kapas should be picked periodically in six pickings at weekly intervals. Retaining the kapas unpicked for morethan a week reduced seed quality
iii).Firstfive pickings in winter crop and first four pickings in the summer crop along should be taken for seed purpose because the seed from the subsequent pickings isinferior in quality.
iv) The cumulative percentage of recovery of seed from the first five pickingsinwinter and four pickings in summeris 90 and80 respectively.
v. The percentage of mature seed ranges from 72-93 in winter and 65-92 in summer
vi. The meandormancy in seeds is 23 days in winter and 64 days in summer at the time of picking which can be overcome by drying the kapas for 3-5 days
vii.The kapas should be dried inshade immediately after each picking for a period of 3-5 days to reduce the moisture content to 15-17% which isthe optimum rangefor ginning with minimum injury to the seed.
viii.Faulty ginning causes seed injury which may go upto 6.5%
ix. Immediately after ginning, the fuzzy seeds obtained should be air dried. If heaped, heating would cause loss in viability.
5.ACID DELINTING OF FUZZY SEEDS
i) Quantity of commercial sulphuric acid required is 100 ml/kg of seed
ii)Duration of treatment is 2-3 minutes.
iii) After acid treatment, the seed should bewashed thoroughly for 3 or 4 times with fresh water
iv. From the floaters, mature seeds without any visible damage canbe picked and added to the sinkers.
6.SEED YIELD
The mean seed yield may be around 1000kg/ha
7.SEED TREATMENT
Slurry treat the seeds with Captan @ 2g/kg of seed with 5 ml of wate rper kg of seed.
8.STORAGE
Treated seeds possessing about 7% moisture content can be stored in gunny bags for 24 months and in 700 gauge polythene bags for 30 months. The polythene bags should be heat sealed.
9.SEPARATION OF DEAD SEEDS
Stored fuzzy or delinted seedsor fresh seeds may be used to separate the dead seeds. Delinted seed may be soaked indouble the volume of water for 3 hours and subsequently air dried to original moisture of 7 per cent. The seeds may then put to potable water. The dead seeds tend to float the these may be removed.
10 MID STORAGE CORRECTION
Stored fuzzy and delinted seeds may be soaked for 2 and 1 hr respectively in double the volume of Disodium hydrogen phbosphate solution (3.59 g/100 lit. of water). The seeds are then air dried to original moisture content and seed treated.
11.PERFORMANCE OF AGED SEED
The productivity of seed decreased significantly with the period of storage. Hybrid seed production: Important steps involved in the commercial production of cotton hybrid are presented in bried for close follow up to ensure adequate quantity of seed of acceptable purity.
Preparatory tillage:
1. Plough the land 6" depth after the onset of monsson. Harrow three times and remove stubbles and trashes of previous crop. Prepare the landto fine tilth.
2.Open up ridges and furrows at a distance of 120 cm (4 ft.)
Manures and fertilisers
1. Apply 5 cart loads of FYM per 0.5 acre before opening upridges and furrows.
2.Apply 10 kg N (50 kg ammonium sulphate): 10 kg P2O5 (60 kg single super phosphate) and 5 kg K2O (16 kg of Muriate of potash) per 0.5 acre just before planting. Top dress at the rate of 5kg (25 kg ammonium sulphate) after 60 days and again after 90 days of planting.
Apply 50 kg/ha o fzinc sulphate to thesoil and apply as foliar spray at 0.5% concentration of ZnSO4 on 75 and 90days after sowing to increase the number of flowers per plant, pollen weight and pollen viability.
Seeds and sowing
1. Mend the ridges and furrows open at a distance of 4 feet. Apply 10:10:8 kgs of NPK along with 5 kg Disulfotone 5% or 4 kg Phorate 10% to the plot uniformly at the base of each ridge.
2. If the seed productionarea is 0.5 acre, female plant (laxmi) should be raised in 40 cents and male plant (SB 289-E) should be raised in 10 cents. Spacing for female 4'x2' and male is 2'x1 1/2'. The male should be sown 5 metre away from the female. In the case of TCHB 213 Hybrid seed production, female parent (TCH 1218) will be raised in 80 cents and the male plant(TCH 209) will be raised in 20 cents. Spacing for female paren t (TCH 1218) will be 4'x2' and for male parent (TCH 209) will be 3'x2'.
For the production of quality seeds of parental lines of hybrid TCHB 213 namely TCH 11218 (Female) and TCH 209 (Male) a spacing 75 x 45 cm and 90 x 45 cm for female and male parent along with a fertilizer schedule of 100:50:40 N, P2O5 and K2O/ha is optimum.
3. Seed required would be about 750 g of Laxmi and 300 g of SB 289-E. In the case of TCHB 213 hybrid seed production, seed required for female parent(TCH 1218) will be 800g and for male parent (TCB 209) will be 200 g.
4. Dibble Laxmi during third weekof August. male parent SB 289-E may be sown in three instalments. Sowing of first 1/3 area alongwith Laxmi, 2nd and 3rd 1/3 areas after 10 days and 20 days after Laxmi sowing.
In the case of TCHB 213 hybrid seed production, sow the seeds of male parent (TCB 209) on the 1st August andsow the seeds of female parent (TCH 1218) 10 to 15 days after sowing of male parent to synchronise flowering.
5. Irrigate immediately after sowing
6. Gap-fill if necessary on 10th day after sowing
7. Thinning may be done at 20-25 days after sowing to regulate one seedling/hill.
Top dressing
First top dress at 60 days and second top dress after 90 days after sowing at the rate of 5 kg N/acre (25 kg Ammonium sulphate)/plot with adequately earth up with first top dress. Application of 100 ppm of Boric acid improves pollen viability. Irrigate immediately after every top dressing.
Irrigation:
Irrigate the land once in 15-20 days depending on soil type and climatic condition. Heavy irrigations during crossing period should be avoided.
Weeding and intercultivation:
Hand weeding shouldbe done as and when required. Intercultivate 4-5 times during crop period to keep the plot clean.
Plant protection:
Important insect pests and diseases of crop are
Insect:
Jassids, Thrips, Aphids, Mites, Spotted boll worm, Pink boll worm, American Boll worm.
Diseases:
Black arm, Alternaria leaf spot, Herlminthosporium leaf spot.
Control:
As per the recommendations given above.
Foliar feeding:
Add 20 g DAP/litre spray fluid and give 4 such sprays for better development of crossed bolls during boll development period.
Steps necessary for efficiency in seed production
1. Emasculate and dust as far as possible all buds appearing during the first six weeks of reproductive phase to ensure good setting and devellopment of bolls.
2. Restrict your emasculation to each day evenings to 3 PM to 6 PM and pollination to morning between 10 AM to 1 PM to ensure highest purity of hybrid seeds. Emasculation should be complete and perfect.
3. Choose optimum size of bud and avoid too young or too old buds for emasculation
4. Cover the male buds with paper packets previous evening for their use next day.
5. Emasculated buds maybe covered preferably with buffer paper packets.
6. Do not forget to tie a thread to the pedicel of the bud immediately after pollination
7. Close your crossing programme after 9th week (from commencement of crossing) and remove all buds and flowers appearing subsequently to facilitate the development of crossed bolls.
8. Nip the top and side shoots at the stalks to stop further vertical and horizontal growth.
9. Light irrigations should be given as and when required. Excessive or scanty or inadequate irrigations should be avoided especially during crossing and boll development period.
10.Continue irrigation till last pick of the corssed bolls. Frequency of irrigation depends on weather factors like rainfall, temperature and wind velocity.
11.Pick up the ripe and completely opened bolls along with brackets and threads on and collect in baskets for second sorting. Boll swithout threads may be bulk harvested as Laxmi seed cotton.
12.Crossed bolls collected in baskets may be sorted out for second time to verify that they are crossed bolls. then collect the crossed seed cotton and store in gunny bags carefully marked as crossed bolls.
13.Rain touch cotton or hard locks should be picked and kept separately to avoid poor germination of hybrid seeds.
14.Store the crossed seed cotton in a cool dry place till it is handed over to processing unit.
15.Seed producers are required to keep a clear account of the cost of production of hybrid seed.
