How to manage cotton crop during a long dry spell in Marathwada?

During a monsoon break the priority is to conserve soil moisture and give protective irrigation at critical stages of cotton. Open furrows or do dora between rows to break the surface and conserve sub soil moisture, mulch with residue to cut evaporation, and remove weeds that compete for the little water left. If you have a farm pond or any water source, give one protective irrigation at squaring, flowering or boll formation, which are the most sensitive stages. A potassium foliar spray helps the plant handle stress. Avoid heavy nitrogen during the dry spell. Follow the agromet advisory for when the rains return so you resume operations at the right time. In drought prone Marathwada, farm ponds and weather based crop insurance are your safety net.