To quantify the influence of price and non-price variables on cotton acreage, two models, the traditional and the Nerlovian adjustment lag models were used for the study area of Virudhunagar in pre and post reform periods. It is evident from the analysis that the coefficient of adjustment (g) estimated from the equations indicate that in the pre-reform period the peasants in Virudhunagar district take 2 years and two months and in the post reform period they take 4 years and 4 months for full adjustment. 

KEYWORDS: Cotton, crop acreage, rainfall, yield, substitute crop