Seven key techniques for achieving full stands in cotton planting
For cotton to achieve high yield, the foremost condition is to secure a full stand, and the process of achieving a full stand is also a multi-step process; a slight carelessness in any single step may affect the full stand from one sowing. In this regard, cotton farmers are reminded to pay attention to the following six key steps:
Key one: Level the land. Mobilize manpower and material resources to concentrate time on leveling the land. A leveled cotton field not only ensures uniform soil moisture buildup and saves water, but also speeds up soil moisture buildup; moreover, seedlings emerge uniformly, strong seedlings are easy to cultivate, seedling disease resistance is enhanced, and it also lays a foundation for future drought resistance and drainage.
Key two: Scientific soil moisture buildup. Soil moisture buildup in cotton fields requires accurate timing, reasonable water use, and high quality. The water volume for spring soil moisture buildup is generally 600-900 cubic meters per hectare; the best period for soil moisture buildup is: for clay soil cotton fields that were not given soil moisture buildup in winter, soil moisture buildup should be completed about 20 days before sowing; for sandy soil cotton fields, soil moisture buildup should be completed about 15 days before sowing; for saline-alkali plots, soil moisture buildup is suitable about half a month before sowing with an appropriate increase of about 10% in water volume. Excessive water use for soil moisture buildup or a time too close to sowing can easily aggravate seedling disease.
Key three: Correctly select herbicides. Chemical herbicides for cotton fields can be divided by period of use into two types: pre-emergence soil treatment agents and post-emergence stem and leaf treatment agents. Before emergence, only soil treatment agents can be used; after emergence, only stem and leaf treatment agents can be used. As for soil treatment agents, they also differ in residual life; herbicides with a long residual life should not be used year after year, otherwise it will aggravate disease in cotton plants.
Key four: Strictly control the seed purchase stage. When purchasing good cotton seed, do the “five checks”: first, check the qualification and reputation of the seed production enterprise; second, check whether it is already an approved variety; third, check whether the seed channel is legal; fourth, check whether seed quality meets national standard requirements; fifth, check whether there is a seed purchase receipt.
Key five: Sow at the right time. Different sowing methods also have different suitable sowing periods. If using nutritional pot seedling raising, the sowing period is generally from the end of March to the beginning of April, sowing 2-3 seeds per pot, or 1-2 coated seeds per pot, with soil covering of 1-1.2 cm being suitable; if using direct sowing with plastic film mulching, the sowing period is generally around April 20; open-field direct sowing is generally suitable around April 25.
Key six: Plant enough reserve seedlings. While sowing cotton, plant some reserve seedlings so that gaps can be filled by transplanting, seedlings are available for transplanting, and nothing goes wrong.
Key seven: Management after emergence: no matter which sowing method is used, water must be watered sufficiently at sowing. Before emergence, keep the seedbed temperature at 28°C-32°C during the day and 15°C-18°C at night. After emergence, ventilate promptly to lower the temperature, with the ventilation opening going from small to large, and 25°C during the day is suitable. One week before planting, carry out low-temperature hardening of seedlings. If low-temperature overcast and rainy weather occurs after emergence, promptly spray Bordeaux mixture or Tuimiaote to prevent seedling disease.