What Causes Excessive Vegetative Growth in Cotton, and Can Foliar Fertilizing Prevent It?

Cotton production holds a very important place in our country, because cotton is grown in many regions of China. In the actual process of growing cotton, growers encounter a very headache-inducing phenomenon: cotton plants in the field show excessive vegetative growth, and this is also a key factor affecting our cotton yield. So what causes excessive vegetative growth in cotton? Can foliar fertilizing prevent it?

1. What causes excessive vegetative growth in cotton?

1. Incorrect watering methods

Water is very important for cotton growth, because only when the water in the soil meets the growth needs of cotton can it grow smoothly. However, cotton at different growth stages has different water requirements. Generally speaking, during the period of vigorous growth, the soil moisture content needs to be around 60 to 70 percent; if the watering frequency is not controlled well, runaway growth will occur.

2. Too much nitrogen fertilizer used

Cotton also has a relatively large fertilizer requirement during growth, but you cannot use large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer at every stage, because different growth stages have different nitrogen requirements. Generally speaking, in the early growth stage the nitrogen requirement is relatively large and the potassium fertilizer requirement is relatively small. In the late growth stage the nitrogen requirement is relatively small, while the phosphorus and potassium fertilizer requirement is larger. If large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer are used over a long period, it will cause excessive vegetative growth in cotton.

3. Planting density is too high

If the spacing is too close when planting cotton, it will cause insufficient light, so the photosynthesis of the cotton will decrease, the nutrients synthesized will also decrease, and therefore excessive vegetative growth will occur.

2. Can foliar fertilizing prevent excessive vegetative growth in cotton?

With certain skills, foliar fertilizing can prevent excessive vegetative growth in cotton. If it is the late growth stage, it is generally recommended to use various fertilizers in combination rather than using large amounts of a single nitrogen fertilizer, and it needs to be used together with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. After using the fertilizers well, combined with pruning work, this can effectively prevent excessive vegetative growth in cotton.

In addition to foliar fertilizing, water must be controlled well. Generally when watering, it should be neither too much nor too little. If there is long-term drought and the temperature is relatively high, irrigation should be strengthened. If it is a flood period or rainy season with relatively much water, it should be drained in time to avoid water accumulation and root rot.

In ordinary times we should also prune away excess branches and the leaves below the main stem in time, so that the roots of the whole cotton plant absorb fewer nutrients, and naturally excessive vegetative growth will not occur.

Field weeding work should also be done properly, so that the speed at which the roots absorb nutrients can be reduced. If excessive vegetative growth is relatively severe, then the roots around the cotton plant can be cut into sections.