Cotton growers urged to take steps to insulate their crops from heatwave

LAHORE: The Punjab Agriculture Department and the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) have urged cotton growers to take immediate preventive measures to protect the crop from the ongoing severe heatwave, warning that the flowering and boll formation stages are highly sensitive and vulnerable to extreme temperatures.

According to the latest forecast of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, temperatures in several areas of Punjab and Sindh are expected to range between 46°C and 50°C, posing a serious threat to cotton productivity, particularly early-sown crop.

Director CCRI Multan Ms Sabahat Hussain said that even slight climatic stress during flowering and boll development could significantly reduce yield, making timely crop management essential.

She stressed that maintaining proper soil moisture was critical and advised farmers to irrigate cotton after flowering at intervals of three to five days, preferably during evening, night or early morning hours to minimise evaporation losses and reduce plant stress. The Punjab Agriculture Department advised growers to apply half a bag of urea or one bag of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN/Guara) with irrigation water, while CCRI recommended the application of 10 to 20 kilogrammes of SOP or MOP through irrigation for crops that had entered flowering, square formation and boll development stages. Farmers were also advised to dissolve 10 kilogrammes of potassium sulfate in water on the recommendation of local agricultural experts to strengthen the crop against heat stress.

Both institutions emphasised the importance of balanced nutrition and recommended the application of micronutrients, including boron, zinc and sulfur, to improve boll setting and crop vigour. CCRI further recommended a foliar spray comprising 300 grams potassium sulfate, 350 grams magnesium sulfate, 250 grams zinc sulfate, 200 grams copper sulfate and 200 grams borax dissolved separately and then mixed in 100 litres of water per acre, with repeat application after every 15 days.

The advisory also highlighted the role of amino acids and biostimulants in improving the crop’s resistance against environmental stress.

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