Enhancing cotton yield and profitability through high-density planting system in Adilabad, Telangana

Abstract

Cotton is one of the most important cash crops in India, providing income to millions of farmers and supporting the country's textile industry. In recent years, challenges such as labor shortages, water scarcity, and climate variability have affected cotton production. To address these issues, the High-Density Planting System (HDPS) was introduced in the Adilabad district of Telangana. This method involves planting cotton at closer spacing using early-maturing, compact varieties along with canopy management using growth regulators like Mepiquat chloride. Trials were conducted at five locations covering 2.0 hectares each. Results from two consecutive years showed that HDPS significantly increased yield by 32.94% compared to traditional methods. The system also improved economic returns, with higher net income and benefit-cost ratio. These findings indicate that HDPS is a promising strategy to enhance cotton productivity and profitability in the region.