A Detailed Explanation of the Causes and Control Methods of Cotton Seedling Stunting
As the cotton planting area grows larger and larger, the accompanying problems are also increasing, and cotton seedling stunting is one of them. It severely affects cotton yield and quality, bringing huge economic losses to growers. So what are the causes and symptoms of cotton seedling stunting? How should it be controlled? Let's take a look together.
1. Temperature and moisture
Transplanting is generally done in May, which is a period of changing temperatures, with high heat and frequent rain and a large temperature difference between day and night. Cotton is highly prone to losing water during growth, and if water is not replenished in time, it will lead to stunted seedlings. In addition, a transplanting temperature below 12 degrees will cause the roots, stems and leaves of the plant to freeze, resulting in slow or stopped growth and the formation of stunted seedlings.
Control methods: Choose a reasonable and appropriate sowing time, and try to avoid transplanting during periods of changeable weather. If the climate is unsuitable, the transplanting time can be postponed. In addition, after transplanting, maintain the moisture needed for plant growth and water in time, but in rainy weather take good drainage and waterlogging prevention measures. When the temperature is low, ground temperature can be increased by covering with straw or plastic film; fertilizing is also a way to increase ground temperature, preventing low temperatures from damaging the root system.
⟦NL>2. Improper fertilization
When applying base fertilizer too shallowly, the plant's root system comes into direct contact with the fertilizer, and the concentrated fertilizer will damage the plant, causing root burn. Alternatively, if the soil is not covered in time after fertilizing and no watering is done, the fertilizer decomposes slowly, and once heavy rain occurs, it will cause fertilizer damage to the plant, resulting in stunted seedlings. Generally, the larger the amount of base fertilizer applied, the earlier the rain after transplanting and the heavier the rain, the more severe the stunting of the plant, and it will also be accompanied by some physiological disease symptoms.
Control methods: Do not apply excessive base fertilizer. The base fertilizer must be placed deep into the soil layer, and then covered with a layer of soil to avoid direct contact between the root system and the fertilizer. Each time topdressing is done, it can be mixed with water to make a dilute fertilizer solution, which can also speed up the plant's absorption.
3. Poor quality of cotton seedlings and transplanting
During seedling raising, improper management leads to poor seedling quality, with many weak and diseased seedlings, far below normal seedlings, resulting in an extremely low survival rate at transplanting, and even surviving seedlings are very prone to being thinned out. In addition, during transplanting, poor land preparation, transplanting too deep or too shallow, and incomplete soil covering will all cause the seedlings to grow thin and weak or to shrink and stop growing, resulting in stunted seedlings.
Control methods: Seedling raising must be carried out strictly, whether in the choice of seedbed, soil selection or seedbed management, trying to meet the conditions required for seedling growth. When lifting seedlings for transplanting, do not cause damage to the seedlings, especially the root and stem parts. Remove weak and diseased seedlings, and transplant neither too deep nor too shallow, pressing the covering soil firmly and burying it solidly.
4. Pests and diseases
After transplanting, due to soil and management reasons, the plant may suffer from pest and disease infestation, which can also form stunted seedlings. For example, damping-off, anthracnose, Fusarium wilt, thrips, cotton aphids and other pests and diseases will cause the plant leaves to curl, the root system to grow thin and weak, and the plant to be short, forming stunted seedlings.
Control methods: Do not be careless about pest and disease control work. Focus on prevention, and treat promptly when pest and disease damage is found. After treatment, apply 30-50 kg of urea per mu, plus foliar spraying of potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, which can promote recovery.
The above are the causes and control methods of cotton seedling stunting. We hope it can help you. To learn more about cotton cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.