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Northern Cotton Belt comprises states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The area in northern belt during 1999-2000 was 14.5 lac hectares and the production was 32 lac bales with 375 kg lint per hectare productivity. Over the years, cotton production in the zone has declined due to higher incidence of pest and diseases mainly the attack of American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and cotton leaf curl virus disease. The cotton in the North Zone is cultivated under cotton-wheat double cropping. The time of sowing is from 15th April to 30th May and the picking is done in the month of October-November. Varieties : Popular varieties of the zone are F414, H777, HS-6, H-1098, F-505, LH-900, F-846, LH-1556, BN, GA, RST-9 and RS-810 of American Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and G-27, LD 327, RG-8 of Desi Cotton (Gossypium arboreum). LHH 144 (CLCV resident) and Om Shankar (CLCV tolerant) are poppular intra-hirsutum hybrids and AAH-1 and LDH 11 are high Yielding intra-arboreum hybrids. The superior medium, staple cottons of North Zone carieties F 414 and hybrid LHH 144 are known in the World for better quality traits like longer fibre length, high strength, better fineness and more uniformity. Insect Pest : The important sucking insects of cotton in north zone are jassids (Amrasca devastans) and whitefly (Bemisia taboci) whereas all three types of bollwormsnamely pink bollworm (Pectinophora gassypiella), spotted bollworm ((Earias species) and American bollworm (Heliothis armigera). The important diseases of cotton in North Zone are Cotton leaf curl virus (Gemini virus), Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv malvacaerum), Leaf spots (Alternaria & Myrothecium species), Boll rot (Fungi, bacteria and bollworms), Root rot (Rhizoctonia saloni & r baataticola) and cotton wilt (Fusarium oxysporum pv malvacaerum).
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