How to reduce cotton square and boll shedding? Proper management is key

There are three main causes of cotton square and boll shedding:

First, physiological shedding, which is also the main cause of shedding. Due to the interaction between meteorological conditions and nutritional conditions, the metabolism within the cotton plant is disrupted, nutrition is insufficient, and physiological shedding of squares and bolls occurs.

Second, unfavorable meteorological conditions aggravate disease and pest damage. Pests such as cotton aphids and red spider mites bite and feed on leaves, reducing the photosynthetic capacity of the leaves, causing nutritional deficiency in squares and bolls and increasing shedding. Excessive spraying, overly high pesticide concentration, and too-short spraying intervals and other pesticide damage will also increase the square and boll shedding rate.

Third, mechanical damage caused by strong winds and hail also leads to increased square and boll shedding. Among unfavorable meteorological conditions, insufficient light in the field is the most important influencing factor. Due to the high degree of shading during the bud stage, the light intensity in the middle and lower parts of the cotton field decreases rapidly and cannot reach the light compensation point, photosynthesis cannot proceed normally, nutrient accumulation is low, and the lower squares and bolls shed due to insufficient nutrients.

Main measures to reduce square and boll shedding:

First, select excellent varieties with steady growth, strong and concentrated boll setting, strong resistance, and a low shedding rate. This is the foundation for reducing square and boll shedding.

Second, carry out rational fertilizer and water management, combining control and promotion, combining drainage and irrigation, and building soil fertility to promote the absorption capacity of the cotton plant's root system and ensure the absorption and supply of nutrients.

Third, after the rows close, strengthen field management, promptly remove branches and wipe off old leaves, so that field ventilation and light penetration are good and photosynthesis in the middle and lower leaves can proceed normally.

Fourth, understand the patterns of disease and pest occurrence, and under the scientific guidance of agricultural plant protection departments, adopt integrated technical control according to different types of diseases and pests and different occurrence periods. Special attention should also be paid to preventing pesticide damage, protecting natural enemies, and protecting the ecological environment of the cotton field.

Fifth, carry out scientific chemical regulation, spraying growth regulators such as mepiquat chloride and auxin to control the plant, dwarf the plant type, improve field light conditions, coordinate plant nutrient distribution, and reduce square and boll shedding.