Cotton Disease Management: The Key to Higher Yields and Bigger Profits
Cotton (Gossypium sp) is one of the most important fibre and cash crop in India. It is vulnerable to infections by pathogens like fungi, bacteria and viruses. All parts of the plants are infected and crop losses are common in the crop. Cotton diseases can significantly reduce crop yield and cotton quality leading to reduced profits for farmers.
The severity of yield loss depends on the type of disease, the timing of infection, and the environmental conditions. The estimated average yield loss due to cotton diseases in India ranges from 10% to 15%. However, in severe outbreaks, yield losses can be as high as 50% or more. Effective disease management can help minimize crop losses and improve yield.
Scientific name of causal agent: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum
Stage of occurrence: Affects at all stages of the crop
Soil temperature of about 20 – 30°C, warm and dry weather followed by rain, high dosage of nitrogen and phosphatic fertilizers, black soils with high alkaline reactions, and wounds caused by nematode and grubs of ash weevil are favourable conditions for fusarium wilt infestation in cotton.
Scientific name of causal agent: Verticillium dahliae
Stage of occurrence: Square and boll formation stage
High nitrogen fertilization, heavy soil with alkaline reaction, low soil temperature (15-20°C), excessive soil moisture or poor drainage in soils, lack of crop rotation and presence of host crops like tomato, brinjal, chilli, bhendi can create favourable conditions for verticillium wilt infection.
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) |
Biological Management | ||
Nanobee 7 Star Bio Fertilizer | Beneficial Lyophilized Microbes Consortia: 1.5 % | Mix 25-50 gm/lit of water and keep it in shade for 3-5 hr. Then mix it in 200 lit of water |
Amruth Almonas Bio Fungicide | Pseudomonas sp | 2ml/lit water |
Terra Fungikill | Herbal formulation | 2 ml/lit water |
Ecoderma Bio Fungicide | Trichoderma viride | Seed treatment: 10 gm/lit water Soil application: 2 – 3 kg Ecoderma +150 – 200 kg FYM |
Chemical management | ||
Benmain Fungicide | Carbendazim 50% DF | Soil drenching: 2 gm/lit water |
Amistar Fungicide | Azoxystrobin 23% SC | Drenching/Spraying: 0.5 – 1 ml/lit water |
Ridomil Gold Fungicide | Metalaxyl 4% + Manconzeb 64%
| Soil application: 1 – 1.5 gm/lit water |
Taqat Fungicide | Hexaconazole 5% + Captan 70% WP | Drenching: 2 gm/lit water |
Roko fungicide | Thiophanate Methyl 70% w/w | Foliar spray: 1 gm/lit water Drenching: 2 – 4 gm/lit water |
Dithane M45 fungicide | Mancozeb 75% WP | Spraying: 2 – 2.5 gm/lit water |
Scientific name of causal agent: Rhizoctonia bataticola
Stage of occurrence: Seedling to vegetative stage
3 types of symptoms caused by the pathogen – Seedling disease, sore shin and root rot
Seedling stage:
Sore shin stage:
Root rot:
Heavy rainfall followed by dry weather, high soil temperature of about 35 – 39°C, presence of host crop like vegetables, growing cotton after cultivation of oilseeds and legumes, wound caused by nematodes and ash weevil grubs increases root rot disease incidence.
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per acre or per lit water) |
Biological Management | ||
Nanobee 7 Star Bio Fertilizer | Beneficial Lyophilized Microbes Consortia: 1.5 % | Mix 25-50gm/lit of water and kept it in shade for 3-5 hr. Then mix it in 200 lit of water |
Multiplex Nisarga | Trichoderma viride 1.5% WP | 1 – 2 kg Multiplex Nisarga + 100 kg FYM |
Ecomonas Bio Pesticide | Pseudomonas fluorescens | Drenching:10 gm/lit water Soil application: 10 – 15 gm/lit |
Anand Dr Bacto’s Herz | Spores and conidia of Mycoparasitic Fungi | 10 ml/lit water |
Chemical Management | ||
Vitavax powder 75% Fungicide | Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% DS | Seed treatment: 3 gm/kg seed |
Dhanustin Fungicide | Carbendazim 50% WP | Drenching: 0.5 – 0.75 gm/lit water |
Sprint Fungicide | Mancozeb 50% + Carbendazim 25% WS | Drenching: 2.5 to 3 gm/lit water |
Katyayani Samartha | Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP | Spraying: 1.5 – 2 gm/lit water |
Scientific name of causal agent: Ramularia areola
Stage of occurrence: Seedling to Reproductive stage
Wet humid conditions, Low temperature (20 – 30°C), close planting, very early or very late sowing of cotton, intermittent rains and excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers may increase grey mildew infection in cotton field.
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per lit water) |
Biological Management | ||
Amruth Abacil Liquid | Bacillus subtilis 2% A.S | 1 ml/lit water |
Chemical Fungicide | ||
Amistar Top Fungicide | Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC | Foliar: 1 ml/lit water |
Taqat Fungicide | Hexaconazole 5% + Captan 70% WP | Foliar: 2 gm/lit water |
CM 75 Fungicide | Carbendazim 13%+Mancozeb 63% | Foliar: 1.5 gm/lit water |
Bavistin Fungicide | Carbendazim 50% WP | Foliar: 0.5 ml/lit water |
Ergon Fungicide | Ergon 44.3% SC | Foliar: 0.6 ml/lit water |
Scientific name of causal agent: Colletotrichum gossypii
Stage of occurrence: All growth stages
Prolonged rainfall during the boll formation stage, presence of crop debris, weed hosts and close planting may be favourable for anthracnose infection in cotton.
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per lit water) |
Biological Management | ||
Terra Fungikill | Herbal formulation | 2 ml/lit water |
Sonkul Sun Bio Monus | Pseudomonas fluorescens | 5 ml/lit water |
Chemical Management | ||
Borogold Fungicide | Combination of Nano Silver Particles & Peroxy Acid | Spraying; 1.5 gm/lit water |
Turf fungicide | Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 63 % WP | Drenching/Spraying: 1.8 – 2.5 gm/lit water |
Taqat Fungicide | Hexaconazole 5% + Captan 70% WP | Drenching: 2 gm/lit water |
Splash Fungicide | Chlorothalonil 75% WP | Spray: 2 ml/lit water |
Dhanustin Fungicide | Carbendazim 50% WP | Drenching/Spraying: 0.5 – 0.8 gm/lit water |
Scientific name of causal agent: Alternaria macrospora
Stage of occurrence: Vegetative and Reproductive stage
High humidity, temperature of about 25 – 28°C, intermittent rainfall, wet foliage, dense planting and presence of crop residues due to lack of field sanitation create favourable conditions for Alternaria leaf blight infection in cotton.
Method of Application of Chemicals – Spraying
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per lit water) |
Biological Management | ||
Sanjeevni Bio fungicide | Trichoderma Viride | Seed treatment: 8 – 10 gm/50 ml (per kg seed) Soil drenching: 5 – 10 kg/lit |
Ecomonas Bio Pesticide | Pseudomonas fluorescens | Foliar: 8 – 10 ml/lit water |
Chemical Management | ||
Tilt fungicide | Propiconazole 25 % EC | 1 ml/lit water |
Bavistin Fungicide | Carbendazim 50% WP | 0.5 ml/lit water |
Avtar fungicide | Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% | 1 gm/lit water |
Amristar Top Fungicide | Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC | 1 ml/lit water |
Dithane M45 fungicide | Mancozeb 75% WP | 2 – 2.5 gm/lit water |
Tata Ishaan Fungicide | Chlorothalonil 75% WP | 2.5 gm/lit water |
Priaxor Fungicide | Pyraclostrobin 333gm/ltr + Fluxapyroxad 167 gm/ltr SC | 0.6 ml/lit water |
Nativo Fungicide | Tebuconazole + Trifloxystrobin 75 WG (50% +25% w/w) | 0.2 – 0.5 gm/lit water |
Scientific name of causal agent: Xanthomonas campestris pv.malvacearum
Stage of occurrence: Seedling to harvest
Optimum soil temperature of 28°C, relative humidity of 85%, early sowing, high atmospheric temperature of 30 – 40°C, delayed thinning, late irrigation, poor tillage, K-deficiency in soil and rains followed by bright sunshine are highly favourable parameters for bacterial blight infection.
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per lit water) |
Biological Management | ||
Spot Bio Fungicide | Pseudomonas fluorescens | 10 ml/lit water |
Biofix Kito Star | Fatty acids and stabilizers | 1 – 2 ml/lit water |
V-Kure | Eugenol, Thymol, potassium salts, cationic surface agent, sodium salts & preservatives | 1.5 – 2 gm/lit water |
Chemical Management | ||
Turf fungicide | Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 63 % WP | Foliar: 1.8 – 2.5 gm/lit water |
Vitavax powder 75% Fungicide | Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% DS | Seed treatment: 3 gm/kg seed |
Dithane M45 fungicide | Mancozeb 75% WP | Spraying: 2 – 2.5 gm/lit water |
Avtar Fungicide | Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% WP | Foliar: 1 gm/lit water |
Stage of occurrence: Flowering and fruit filling stage
Excessive water or sudden rainfall, poor soil drainage, bright sunshine or hot air temperature may create conditions favourable for para wilt incidence
The exact cause of this disorder is still unknown. Preventive measures can be taken to minimize the para wilt incidence to some extent. Some of the measures include growing wilt tolerant varieties, accurate management of irrigation, reducing waterlogging conditions by providing adequate drainage and maintaining optimum vegetative growth by avoid using excessive of FYM and fertilizers.
Scientific name of causal agent: Cotton leaf curl virus
Stage of occurrence: All stages
Vector: Whitefly
Primary source of spread is Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Presence of alternate hosts like chilli, bhendi, tomato, warm temperature, late planting can be favourable for leaf curl virus infection.
Spread of leaf curl virus disease can be managed by controlling the vector whitefly, which spreads the virus. The following chemicals can be used to control whitefly in cotton.
Product Name | Technical Content | Dosage (per lit water) |
Mechanical Management | ||
Tapas Yellow Sticky Trap | 11 cm x 28 cm | 4 – 6/acre |
Biological Management | ||
Amruth Alestra Liquid | Verticillium lecanii | 2 ml/lit water |
T.Stanes Nimbecidine | Azardiractin 300 PPM (EC formulation) | 5 ml/lit water |
Chemical Management | ||
Lancer Gold Insecticide | Acephate 50 % + Imidacloprid 1.8 % SP | 0.4 ml/lit water |
Pager Insecticide | Diafenthi uron 50% WP | 1.2 gm/lit water |
Ulala Insecticide | Flonicamid 50 WG | 0.3 gm/lit water |
Actara Insecticide | Thiamethoxam 25 % WG | 0.5 gm/lit water |
Kaitaku Insecticide | Acetamiprid 20 % SP | 0.1 – 0.2 ml/lit |
Scientific name of causal agent: Tobacco streak virus
Stage of occurrence: All stages
Vector: Thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Presence of weed hosts, high temperature (25 – 30°C), infected plant debris may create favourable conditions for tobacco streak virus disease spread in cotton crop.
Spread of Tobacco streak virus disease can be managed by controlling thrips, which spread the virus. The following chemicals can be used to control thrips in cotton.
Product name | Technical content | Dosage (per lit water) |
Mechanical Management | ||
Tapas Yellow Sticky Trap | 22 cm x 28 cm | 6 – 8/acre |
Biological Management | ||
Pesto Raze Bio-insecticide | Botanical Extracts | 2 ml/lit water |
Control TRM Bio-pesticide | Organic blend of botanical extracts | 2 ml/lit water |
Econeem Plus | Azadiractin 10000 ppm | 2 ml/lit water |
Chemical Management | ||
Summit Insecticide | Spinetoram 11.7 % SC | 0.5- 1ml/lit water |
Admire Insecticide | Imidacloprid 70% WG | 0.3 gm/lit water |
Karate Insecticide | Lambdacyhalothrin 5% EC | 1.5 ml/lit water |
Nurelle D Insecticide | Chlorpyriphos 50% + Cypermethrin 5% EC | 2 ml/lit water |
Katyayani Thioxam | Thiamethoxam 25% WG | 0.4 gm/lit water |
Shinzen Plus Insecticide | Fipronil 5 % SC | 3 gm/lit water |
Osheen Insecticide | Dinotefuran 20 % SG | 0.6 – 0.8 gm/lit water |
Marshal Insecticide | Carbosulfan 25% EC | 2.5 ml/lit water |
(Note: Refer to the product label to find the right time of Application and more details of the product)
Discover effective strategies in our guide to enhance your cotton crop’s health and yield. Click here to read Management Of Insect Pests In Cotton.
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