What Causes Excessive Vegetative Growth in Cotton? Detailed Guide to the Latest Control Methods
China is a major cotton-producing country, and cotton is grown all over the country. However, during cultivation there is a phenomenon that gives growers a headache: excessive vegetative growth in cotton, which is an important factor affecting cotton yield. During excessive vegetative growth, there are too many leafy branches, vegetative growth is excessive, the shedding rate of flower buds and bolls is extremely high, and few bolls are set, causing a sharp drop in yield. So what causes excessive vegetative growth? How should it be solved? Let's find out together.
1. Causes of Excessive Vegetative Growth
1. Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer
Cotton is a crop with a relatively high fertilizer requirement. Generally, for every 100kg of cotton grown, it needs to absorb 35-40kg of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, its demand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer differs at each growth stage. In the early growth stage, it needs more nitrogen and less phosphorus and potassium, while in the later stage it is the opposite: it needs less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium, so this point should be noted when fertilizing. But many growers do not have a good grasp of this characteristic and apply large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer (urea or ammonium bicarbonate) when fertilizing, causing the plants to grow excessively.
2. Improper watering
Water is an important component of the cotton plant body. During growth, it needs to absorb water from the soil. Like fertility, each growth stage has different water requirements. During the growth process, the average soil moisture content reaches 60%-70%, and one third of the water during the entire growth period is consumed by transpiration. However, if too much water is given, it will cause excessive vegetative growth, and in severe cases, delayed maturity with excessive green growth.
3. Excessive planting density
If the planting density is too high during cultivation, the field becomes shaded, light is insufficient, cotton photosynthesis weakens, fewer nutrients are synthesized, and excessive vegetative growth results.
2. Control Methods
1. Strengthen fertilizer and water management
When fertilizing, be sure to pay attention to the rational combination of various fertilizers. It is not advisable to apply a single fertilizer in excess. When excessive vegetative growth has already appeared, stop applying nitrogen fertilizer, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and combine this with pruning to bring the excessive growth trend under control. Water must also be well controlled: not too much, not too little. Water during drought, and take good drainage and waterlogging prevention measures during rainy weather. It is advisable to keep soil moisture content at 60%. Stop watering at the end of August to avoid affecting yield.
2. Remove branches and leaves
When excessive vegetative growth occurs at the seedling stage, the leaves and branches on the lower part of the main stem can be pruned away. In this way, the plant reduces the nutrient supply to the root system, and the plant will return to normal growth.
3. Intertillage
When intertilling and weeding, deep tillage can be carried out on the plants to damage part of the root system and slow the rate at which the roots absorb nutrients. In severe cases, the surrounding roots can be cut.
The above are the causes of excessive vegetative growth in cotton and the control methods. We hope this helps you. To learn more about cotton cultivation knowledge, please follow us.