How to fertilize cotton effectively during the flowering and boll-setting stage
Cotton farmers should earnestly strengthen the management of cotton fields after rain, prevent premature aging, prevent boll rot, and control pests and diseases, so as to promote normal boll-opening growth of cotton. Focus on the following measures: 1. Drain waterlogged fields early to prevent lodging. August and September are the cotton boll-opening period. In view of the rainy climate this year, for cotton fields with standing water, after rain...
At present, it is the cotton flowering and boll-setting stage, and many cotton farmers are asking how to fertilize during this period. According to Qiu Jiashan, a senior agronomist at the Agricultural Technology Promotion Center of Ninghe County, Tianjin, the flowering and boll-setting stage is the peak period of fertilizer demand in cotton production, and the main approach should be heavy application of nitrogen fertilizer. The specific method is to apply 7.5 to 10 kg of urea per mu of cotton field, and it should be applied to the bottom of the furrow in the middle of the cotton rows and then covered with soil. After topdressing, irrigation should also be carried out immediately, because during the flowering and boll-setting stage the cotton field consumes a large amount of water, and the relative water content of the 0 to 20 cm soil layer should be maintained at about 70%. Therefore, the irrigation amount per mu of cotton field should be about 45 cubic meters, and in ordinary years the flowering and boll-setting stage requires irrigation twice. In addition, whether a second nitrogen fertilizer application is needed during the large boll-setting period must be determined according to the condition of the cotton plants.