Detailed Explanation of the Causes of Excessive Vegetative Growth in Cotton and the Control Methods
China is a major cotton-producing country, with cotton grown in all parts of the country. However, during cultivation there is a phenomenon that gives growers a headache: excessive vegetative growth in cotton, which is an important reason affecting cotton yield. When excessive vegetative growth occurs, there are too many leaf branches, vegetative growth is excessive, the shedding rate of flower buds and bolls is extremely high, and few bolls set, causing a sharp drop in yield. So what are the causes of excessive vegetative growth? How should it be solved? Let's find out together.
I. Causes of Excessive Vegetative Growth
1. Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer
Cotton is a crop with a relatively large fertilizer requirement. Generally, for every 100kg of cotton grown, it absorbs 35-40kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium elements. However, its demand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers differs at each growth stage. In the early growth stage, the demand for nitrogen is relatively large and for phosphorus and potassium relatively small, while in the later stage it is the opposite, with less demand for nitrogen and more for phosphorus and potassium, so this point should be noted when fertilizing. But many growers do not have a good grasp of this characteristic, and when fertilizing they apply large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer (urea or ammonium bicarbonate), 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, and just like fertility, the water requirements differ at each growth stage. During the growth process, the average soil content reaches 60%-70%, and one third of the water in the entire growth period is consumed by transpiration. However, if too much water is applied, it will cause excessive vegetative growth, and in severe cases delayed maturity with excessive vegetative growth.
3. Excessive planting density
If the planting density is too high during planting, it causes the field to be shaded, with insufficient light, which weakens the photosynthesis of cotton and results in fewer nutrients being synthesized, leading to excessive vegetative growth.
II. Control Methods
1. Strengthen fertilizer and water management
When fertilizing, be sure to pay attention to the reasonable combination of various fertilizers; it is not advisable to apply a single fertilizer in excess. When excessive vegetative growth has already occurred, stop applying nitrogen fertilizer, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and combine this with pruning to bring the trend of excessive vegetative growth under control. Water must be well controlled, neither too much nor too little. Water during drought, and during rainy weather carry out drainage and waterlogging prevention measures well, keeping the soil moisture content at 60% as appropriate. Stop watering at the end of August to avoid affecting the yield.
2. Removing 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 off, so that the plant reduces the nutrient supply to the root system and the plant returns to normal growth.
3. Intertillage
When carrying out intertillage and weeding, deep tillage can be performed on the plants to damage part of the root system and slow down the rate at which the roots absorb nutrients. In severe cases, the roots around the plant 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.