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High-density planting system (HDPS) in cotton

The High-Density Planting System (HDPS) is an ICAR-CICR package that grows compact short-duration cotton genotypes at populations roughly ten times the conventional hybrid stand. It combines closer spacing with canopy management — chlormequat-chloride sprays and topping — to convert a more uniform, compact plant architecture into higher seed-cotton yield per hectare.

Principle

Conventional hybrid cotton on heavier soils is grown at 90 × 60 cm spacing (approximately 0.18-0.20 lakh plants/ha) with each plant producing a large number of bolls on extended sympodial branches. HDPS instead grows compact varieties at 1.0-3.0 lakh plants/ha (typically 45-60 cm row spacing with 10 cm plant-to-plant spacing) so that each plant contributes fewer bolls but the per-hectare yield is substantially higher.

Implementation

Key components of the CICR HDPS package include:

  • Spacing: 45-60 cm rows × 10 cm plants (see Cotton Spacing Row Options).
  • Varieties: compact short-duration genotypes such as Suraj and Anjali; many private hybrids including Crystal Cch 369 are also marketed as HDPS-suitable.
  • Canopy regulation: chlormequat-chloride spray and/or de-topping (Cotton Topping Pinching) at 90-100 cm plant height.
  • Mechanisation: row spacing is set to accommodate power-weeders and, in pilot blocks, mechanical pickers.

CICR began HDPS research in 2010 and the AICRP launched a dedicated compact-genotype trial in 2012. Reported yield gains are 30-65% higher seed-cotton yield over conventional 90 × 60 cm spacing.

Adoption context

HDPS is best suited to rainfed Vertisols and to areas with shortage of picking labour (Cotton Picking Labour). Telangana, Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka have been the principal adoption zones. Compact paired-row variants (Amrit Pattern Cotton, Cotton Double Row Footing Drainage) draw on similar canopy-management principles.

Limitations

HDPS requires precise seed rate, weed-control timing, topping and chlormequat application; deviation from the package erodes the yield advantage. Mechanical picking infrastructure is still nascent in India and limits the full economic benefit of compact architecture.

See also Cotton Spacing Row Options, Cotton Topping Pinching, Cotton Picking Labour, Crystal Cch 369, Amrit Pattern Cotton, Cotton Double Row Footing Drainage.

References

  1. High Density Planting System. ICAR-CICR.
  2. HDPS. National Cotton Project, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.