High Density Planting (HDP) in Cotton - Sow More, Harvest Much More

Cotton plays an important role in Indian farming and industrial economy of the country. Prior to the introduction of Bt technology, the cotton productivity was severely hampered due to wide spread and economically significant infestation of bollworms on fruiting bodies. Ever since the introduction of Bt cotton, the average cotton productivity and the national cotton output has increased by three folds. Effective control of bollworms by Bt technology in the elite genetic background coupled with adoptions of good crop management practices have lead to l this quantum jump in the productivity levels. However, off late farmers are started witnessing yield platueing (= no significant increase in yields over previous year). Though every year better hybrids are getting added to the portfolio of commercial Bt hybrids, the yield differences that these new hybrids bring in over the current hybrids appeared to be marginal. Even if some new hybrids do yield significantly higher than the existing one, adaptability of such hybrids is limited to certain regions and conditions. The farmers already having adopted best bollworm control technology and cultivating the best germplasm available in the market place, any further increment in yields over the existing levels warranted for some thing beyond the technology and germplasm. This has led to the conceptualization of HDP, i. e. , increasing plant population/ acre over the existing population/acre being practiced by farmer. The rationale was that by increasing plant number/ unit area one could increase total number of bolls/unit area that might translate in to a few quintals of additional yield/ac. Through this extensive study successfully demonstrate the significant benefits of HDP in cotton production.