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Cotton

Verified data

Gossypium hirsutum

Kharif · Punjab PK / Sindh

Fertilizer recommendation

N 170P₂O₅ 65K₂O 70kg/ha

Source: Mississippi State Extension / CCRI Multan (Ahmed research 2026-10-14)

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How to Apply Fertilizer Correctly

Practical field advice for Cotton — knowing how to apply fertilizer matters as much as knowing how much.

What is the correct way to flood DAP for Cotton?
Dissolve the DAP with a DAP solvent in a drum so it fully dissolves. Do NOT open the drum valve at the start of irrigation — wait until the water has covered about 25% of the plot (roughly 1–1.5 kanal in). Then open the valve. Close the drum valve about 10 minutes before you stop the water, so the last flow of water carries the dissolved fertilizer evenly to the far end of the field.
Should urea be flooded with irrigation water, or broadcast afterwards?
Do NOT flood urea. Flooding loses 40–50% of nitrogen through leaching (deep percolation) and denitrification (lost as gas). Instead, broadcast (chhatta) the urea 1–3 days after irrigation, when the soil is moist (tar-wattar condition). This gives 30%+ better absorption than flooding.
How can I distribute fertilizer evenly across the field?
Open the fertilizer drum valve only after irrigation water has already entered 1–1.5 kanal — opening it too early empties the drum before the far end is reached. If the field is not laser-leveled, divide one acre into 2–4 plots (kyare): 2 plots for heavy clay soils, 3–4 for loam, and fertigate each plot separately. Keep checking both the field and the drum during irrigation until you get a feel for the timing.
When should phosphorus and potash be applied?
Phosphorus (P₂O₅) and potash (K₂O) are best applied at sowing as a basal dose, placed in the seedbed. If you missed it at sowing, dissolve the fertilizer (use a DAP solvent for DAP) and flood it at the first or second irrigation — flooding is far more effective than broadcasting for phosphorus and potash at that stage.

Growing conditions

Soil
Deep, well-drained loam to clay loam.
Water
6–8 irrigations; avoid water stress at flowering and boll formation.
Growing season
Sow April – May; picking October – December.
Suitable regions
Punjab PK / Sindh

Growth stages & feeding

1

Basal · At sowing

Full phosphorus + potassium.

2

Squaring · ~40 days

First nitrogen split.

3

Flowering–boll formation · ~70–90 days

Remaining nitrogen in 1–2 splits.

Watch out for

WhiteflyPink bollwormCotton leaf curl virusThrips

Seeing symptoms? Try the Plant Doctor →

Related fertilizers

UreaDAPMOP

Organic fertilizer options

Well-rotted farmyard manure, compost or vermicompost can be used as a basal soil conditioner for Cotton — they build soil structure and release nutrients slowly over the season. Because organic nutrient content varies by source, top up the precise nutrient need with mineral fertilizer calculated for your crop and region.

No crop-specific verified organic dose exists for this crop — the guidance above is general practice, not a measured recommendation. Get your material lab-tested for precision planning.

Explore organic fertilizers →

References

  • Provincial agriculture departments / research institutes. Mississippi State Extension / CCRI Multan (Ahmed research 2026-10-14) — Punjab PK / Sindh

Last reviewed: 2026-10-01