How much is cotton per ton? Manage it like this in the late production stage
Cotton is an important cash crop in our country. It can not only be used to make quilts, but also various cotton garments, and its application value is very high. It is planted in most parts of the north. So how much is cotton per ton now? How should it be managed in the late production stage?
1. How much is cotton per ton now?
1. Domestic cotton: Last week the spot cotton market adjusted, and high-grade Xinjiang cotton resources were relatively scarce. As of August 25, the China Cotton Price Index (CCIndex3128B) closed at 15,907 yuan/ton (+12 yuan/ton, weekly change, the same below), and the basis against the main 1801 contract was 642 yuan/ton (-38); the basis level has already reached a reasonable range.
2. Imported cotton: As of August 25, the China Cotton Import Index (FCIndexM) closed at 86.2 cents/lb (+2.9), equivalent to about 15,609 yuan/ton under the sliding-scale duty (+326), and the price difference with domestic cotton of the same grade was +298 yuan/ton (quota price not considered).
2. How should cotton be managed in the late production stage?
1. One-season spring-sown cotton fields
(1) Field management: Cotton fields with premature senescence are prone to secondary growth in the late stage, and new water sprouts should be removed in time. For late-crop and excessively vigorous cotton fields, removing empty branches and old leaves is recommended to prevent the field from becoming too dense. For lightly lodged cotton fields, plants can be pushed together into ridges to improve ventilation and light penetration in the field. At the same time, remove tall weeds and malignant weeds such as dodder in time.
(2) Foliar fertilization: For cotton fields affected by flooding or waterlogging and showing signs of premature senescence, foliar fertilization can be used, applying commercial foliar fertilizer or a 3% urea solution plus a 0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, spraying once every 5-7 days for 2-3 consecutive sprays. Cotton fields that need defoliation and ripening for mechanical harvesting should not receive foliar fertilization. Foliar fertilization should be done on cloudy days or in the evening to prevent “leaf burn.” To reduce labor, foliar fertilization can be combined with spraying chemical pesticides.
(3) Pest control: Strengthen control of pests in cotton fields such as the small brown planthopper, cotton mirid bug, tobacco cutworm, and beet armyworm, carry out unified prevention and control, and reduce the probability of large-scale disease and pest outbreaks in cotton fields caused by factors such as excessive vegetative growth or late maturity due to excessive greenness.
(4) Xinjiang cotton region: First, strengthen fertilizer, water, and chemical regulation management focused on promoting early maturity; after topping, shape a reasonable yield structure and population canopy structure in the cotton field through chemical regulation to prevent excessive vegetative growth and closure of the cotton field; second, strengthen comprehensive management for disaster prevention and harm reduction, focusing on controlling cotton bollworm, cotton mirid bug, red spider mite, and boll diseases, and strengthen late-stage disaster prevention work, especially extreme disastrous weather such as hail and rainstorms; third, strengthen defoliation and ripening management, and spray defoliant and ripening agents at the appropriate time according to the boll opening rate and climatic conditions; fourth, strengthen harvest management. Before harvesting mechanically harvested cotton fields, remove field debris, residual film, and drip irrigation fittings. Harvest when the defoliation rate of the cotton field is ≥93% and the boll opening rate is ≥95%. For hand-picked cotton fields, it is essential to prevent the mixing in of “three fibers” or mixing of grades.
2. Seedling-raising and transplanting cotton fields
(1) Timely chemical regulation: For late-developing and late-maturing cotton fields, when most cotton bolls reach 70%-80% of the boll stage (that is, more than 45 days), and the daily maximum temperature remains above 20°C for 3-5 consecutive days (generally around mid-October), ripening treatment should be carried out in time. Use 200 mL/mu of 40% ethephon aqueous solution, mixed with 40-50 kg/mu of water for spraying, so that the upper and lower leaves of the cotton plant are evenly covered with the solution.
(2) Disease and pest control: By increasing potassium fertilizer application, draining waterlogging and reducing waterlogging damage, and applying foliar fertilizer, prevent the occurrence of “two wilt diseases”; for cotton fields with disease and relatively severe conditions, measures such as chemical root drenching and removal of diseased plants can be used. Enhance field ventilation and light penetration, drainage, and waterlogging reduction to prevent boll rot. Boll diseases occurring during the boll opening period can easily cause boll rot, and can be sprayed with 200-fold Bordeaux mixture or 600-fold 50% zineb wettable powder, once every 10-15 days for 3-4 consecutive times. Focus on controlling the tobacco cutworm and tobacco whitefly. During the adult occurrence period, use sex pheromone lures to trap and kill them; during the larval occurrence period, biological agents such as nuclear polyhedrosis virus insecticides can be used for control, and the best control period should be selected at the 2nd-instar larval stage before they disperse to cause damage, using low-volume spraying. In addition to even coverage on the plants, the ground near the plant rhizosphere should also be thoroughly sprayed to prevent larvae that fall to the ground from being missed. When tobacco whitefly populations are large (≧3 insects/sq cm), spray with 15,000-fold 50% nitenpyram water-soluble granules.
(3) Disaster reduction and harvesting: Pay close attention to the effects of meteorological disasters such as typhoons, and actively adopt technical measures for disaster prevention and reduction. After typhoons and rainstorms, drain waterlogging and reduce waterlogging damage in time, support and straighten cotton plants, and properly earth up to stabilize the roots. According to the condition of the cotton plants after the disaster, root-side topdressing can be combined to promote recovery growth. At the same time, harvest in time. About 1 week after the boll shell cracks open is the best harvest period.
3. Direct-seeded cotton fields after wheat (rapeseed)
(1) Nutrient supplementation: Direct-seeded cotton after wheat (rapeseed) generally sets more bolls on the upper part. When growth is insufficient, apply special foliar fertilizer in time in mid-September to supplement nutrients, or directly spray a 2% urea and 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to increase boll set and boll weight.
(2) Scientific chemical regulation: Direct-seeded cotton after wheat (rapeseed) flowers and sets bolls in a concentrated period. In early October, choose clear and windless weather and use 30-40 g/mu of thidiazuron powder together with 200-300 mL/mu of 40% ethephon aqueous solution, mixed with 40-50 kg/mu of water, for whole-field spraying. Defoliant and ripening agents must be prepared and used immediately. If rain occurs 8 hours after spraying, re-spraying should be done. When spraying, spray evenly so that the upper and lower leaves of the cotton plant are evenly covered with the solution, achieving whole-plant coverage. For cotton fields that mature later or where the spraying period is delayed, the dosage should be appropriately increased. After defoliation and ripening treatment, boll opening generally concentrates within 15-20 days, so harvest in time.
(3) Disaster prevention and harm reduction: Irrigate dry cotton fields in time. If typhoons and rainstorms cause lodging of cotton plants, strengthen post-disaster support and recovery management. In the late stage, focus on controlling pests and diseases such as red spider mite and cotton bollworm, and adhere mainly to integrated control and biological control.