Cultivation Techniques and Management Key Points for Wheat Following Cotton

To address the problems of late sowing, low and unstable yields in wheat following cotton, we have developed a set of high-yield cultivation techniques for wheat following cotton, which has greatly increased @#@245@#@ yields. In 1999, the planting area in the county was about 50,000 mu, with an average wheat yield of 350 kg per mu. The key technical points are:

(1) Apply sufficient pre-sowing irrigation and sufficient basal fertilizer. Create soil moisture before October 15, then pull up the cotton plants and carry them out of the field, allowing the late autumn bolls to open naturally on the cotton plants. Because cotton stubble depletes soil fertility considerably, the amount of basal fertilizer should be increased. However, wheat following cotton is sown late and relies on the main stem for tillering; before jointing, fertilizer and water management should be used to control tillering and regulate the population. Therefore, the proportion of urea used as basal fertilizer for wheat following cotton should not be too large. Generally, apply 4,000 kg of high-quality farmyard manure, 25 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 15 kg of potassium chloride per mu. Nitrogen fertilizer should be concentrated as a topdressing at the wheat jointing stage.

(2) Select superior varieties and improve sowing quality. Wheat following cotton has a short growth period and fewer tillers, so high-yield, early-maturing, medium-spike, medium-grain wheat varieties should be selected, such as Henong 321, 71-3, etc. Before sowing, seeds should be carefully selected, sun-dried, and treated with chemicals. The sowing rate should be determined according to the sowing date. For sowing from October 15 to Frost's Descent, the basic seedling number per mu should reach 350,000-400,000; for sowing after Frost's Descent, the basic seedling number per mu should reach 400,000-430,000. To ensure sowing quality, the soil should be finely prepared, and a seed drill should be used for sowing, with a sowing depth of 3-4 cm. Seeds should be distributed evenly and the sowing depth should be uniform.

(3) Winter management. (1) Sufficient soil moisture for overwintering: Wheat following cotton has weak seedlings and few tillers, with poor resistance, and is prone to freezing damage during overwintering, so sufficient soil moisture for overwintering is essential. For fields that received sufficient pre-sowing irrigation, it is advisable not to apply freezing water, so as to avoid slow warming of soil temperature in early spring, which would affect early wheat growth. However, in case of autumn drought, rapid moisture loss, or sowing by grabbing moisture without pre-sowing irrigation, freezing water should be applied appropriately, preferably early, and timely hoeing and raking should be done after irrigation to prevent soil compaction and cracking. (2) Winter pressing of wheat: Winter pressing of wheat can not only close soil cracks, but also crush clods to reduce water evaporation, helping to prevent cold and preserve moisture for safe overwintering. After wheat stops growing, choose a sunny afternoon and use a stone roller to press the wheat. Generally, light pressing for fields with sufficient moisture and sandy soil; appropriate heavy pressing for fields with poor moisture retention and heavy clay soil.

(4) Spring management. (1) Early spring management: When the surface soil begins to thaw in spring, use a bamboo rake along the rows to remove dead leaves and debris, then begin intertillage and hoeing, which can increase temperature, preserve moisture, and promote early seedling growth. (2) Heavy fertilizer and water application at jointing stage: The first fertilizer and water application in spring should be postponed until the jointing stage, and fertilizer and water should be applied heavily, with 20 kg of urea applied per mu. This fertilizer and water application is the period of greatest benefit for wheat, as it can increase the setting rate, increase the number of grains per spike, and increase the 1000-grain weight. In addition, adequate irrigation should be applied at the booting and flowering-filling stages.

(5) Control of diseases, insects, and weeds. Before wheat jointing, use MCPA or tribenuron-methyl to control weeds, and for wheat aphids, use Kuaishaling. For wheat sheath blight, leaf blight, and powdery mildew, use Wenmeiqing or Fenxiuning. During the wheat filling stage, foliar fertilizers such as Penshibao or Huimanfeng can be sprayed to prevent hot dry winds affecting wheat.