Cotton stands in the field for five to six months and grows taller than the person spraying it, so pressure, reach and good leaf coverage matter more than in any other field crop. Sucking pests attack early, pink bollworm attacks squares and bolls later — monitoring with traps and spraying only when needed saves both money and natural enemies.
Spray calendar
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1
Weed control
0–3 days, then 20–25 daysTarget: Early weeds
Pre-emergence herbicide after sowing; directed post-emergence spray between rows with a hood to keep it off cotton leaves.
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2
Sucking pests
30–70 daysTarget: Jassid, thrips, aphid, whitefly
Spray at the economic threshold only. Point the nozzle upward from below — these pests sit on the underside of leaves.
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3
Square & boll protection
45–120 daysTarget: Pink bollworm, other bollworms
Place pheromone traps from 45 days. Spray when trap catches or rosette flowers cross the threshold; cover squares and bolls well.
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4
Late whitefly & leaf curl
70–120 daysTarget: Whitefly, leaf curl virus
Use yellow sticky traps. Rotate insecticide groups; repeated use of one group can make whitefly worse.
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5
Leaf diseases
60–110 daysTarget: Bacterial blight, Alternaria leaf spot, grey mildew
Fungicide / bactericide at first symptoms as advised by KVK. Increase water volume as the canopy closes.
⚠ Use only CIB&RC-registered products at the dose and water volume on the label, and follow your KVK / agriculture department for local pest thresholds. Wear gloves, mask and goggles; never eat, drink or smoke while spraying.
Pests & diseases to watch
Rosette (half-open) flowers, bored bolls, stained lint.
Leaf edges turn yellow then red and curl downward.
Sticky leaves, black sooty mould, leaf curl virus.
Angular water-soaked spots that turn black.
Sprayer tips for cotton
- Once cotton is above waist height, use a three-way or extendable lance to reach the top and inside.
- A double-motor battery sprayer (180 psi) keeps pressure steady for a full tank.
- Spray in the morning or evening; afternoon heat dries droplets before they reach leaves.
- Destroy crop residue and avoid ratoon cotton to break the pink bollworm cycle.
Recommended Masand sprayers
Masand Gold
- 12V · 18 Ah
- 9.2 L/min
- 180 psi
Masand Shakti (Double Motor)
- 12V · 14 Ah
- 9.0 L/min
- 180 psi
Masand Agriure (Double Section)
- 20 L
- 139F 4-stroke
Masand Supreme Hi-Tech
- 16 L
- Brass
Find the right one for my acres → Ask on WhatsApp
Frequently asked
How do I spray tall cotton properly?
Use a three-way or extendable lance, a hollow-cone nozzle and enough pressure (a 180 psi double-motor battery sprayer or a power sprayer). Walk between rows and direct spray up into the canopy so the underside of leaves is covered.
When should I spray for pink bollworm?
Monitor with pheromone traps from about 45 days after sowing. Spray when catches or damaged flowers/bolls cross the threshold advised by your agriculture department, and cover squares and bolls thoroughly.
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