Supporting Cotton Productivity in Côte d’Ivoire through Agronomic Interventions

Abstract

Modern agronomic concepts such as high-density planting systems are emerging in cotton-based cropping systems. Agronomic practices specific to new cotton varieties made in specific niches, management of the vegetation cover using growth regulators (retardants and defoliants) for better quality and above all the improvement of crop health through integrated nutrient management with an emphasis on the foliar feeding pattern, can significantly increase cotton productivity and improve the socio-economic status of farmers of cotton. It is in this context that studies on cotton sowing densities, the supplementation of mineral fertilization with trace elements and the management of the resumption of vegetation of cotton plants at the end of the cycle have been carried out in a farming environment and in research stations. The results of the survey in the farmer’s environment, of the trials conducted in stations and on observation posts showed a positive correlation between sowing densities and seed cotton yield. About 22% of the variations in seed cotton yield are related to sowing density. The best seed cotton yields are obtained with the high sowing densities in the north and the low densities in the south of the Ivorian cotton basin. Studies on the supplementation of base fertilizer with trace elements have shown that the combined application of 200 kg/ha of NPK + 50 kg/ha of urea + 2 kg/ha of ZnS04 increases the seed cotton yield and provides a monetary gain of 36,622 CFA francs/ha. The study on the management of vegetation resumption at the end of the cycle showed that the application of 4 l/ha of Ethephon and 62.5 ml/ha of Diuron at 100 days after emergence improves defoliation and capsule opening for better management of vegetation recovery at the end of the season. Studies have shown that seeding density is a factor in seed cotton yield. Seed cotton yields were improved by supplementing with mineral fertilizer with zinc and adding desiccants and defoliants at the end of the cycle.