Detailed Explanation of the Integrated Technology for Simplified Cotton Cultivation with Emphasis on the Early Stage

The integrated technology for simplified cotton cultivation with emphasis on the early stage is a new technology developed to address problems in cotton production such as high labor intensity, numerous management steps and high production costs. The so-called emphasis on the early stage means placing most of the cotton management work in the early growth period, preventing possible problems in the early stage, and changing the past practice of three parts planting and seven parts management into seven parts planting and three parts management; the so-called simplified cultivation means removing unnecessary steps from the traditional cotton management practices and simplifying the operating procedures; the so-called integrated technology means gathering the operating techniques into one technical system with standardized operation. This technology is highly operable and can achieve remarkable results in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

I. Technical Core

The six changes and six ones are the core of this technology, namely: change multi-variety mixed planting to one main variety per county, laying the foundation for high yield and high quality (select a suitable variety type according to the region); change multiple operations to completion by one machine (precision sowing of coated cotton seed, film mulching and herbicide spraying completed in one operation); change multiple fertilizer applications to one application (one-time basal application of formula fertilizer); change dependent irrigation to one key watering; change the five-step pruning method to a one-time pruning method (only topping); change single cropping of cotton on irrigated land to one multiple cropping pattern per plot (on plots with high water and fertilizer levels, choose one of the multiple cropping patterns such as cotton-wheat, cotton-radish, cotton-potato or cotton-onion, and plant on a large scale).

II. Technical Regulations

1. Building and conserving soil moisture. In normal years, winter and spring rain and snow are light and the soil's underlying moisture is insufficient, so the conditions of mixed distribution of irrigated and dry land can be used to build moisture by winter irrigation or early spring irrigation. For storage irrigation to build moisture, the irrigation amount is 100 cubic meters per mu in winter irrigation and 70 cubic meters per mu in early spring irrigation, with a penetration depth of 80-100 cm, and the moisture effect can last until the flowering stage. After irrigation to build moisture, attention should be paid to conserving moisture. The main measures include: harrowing during the freezing period, harrowing and covering in spring to conserve moisture, and rolling before sowing to raise moisture.

2. Applying sufficient basal fertilizer. Apply basal fertilizer once in combination with land preparation. Experiments have shown that applying all nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer as basal fertilizer can increase yield by 2.6%-12.1% compared with applying fertilizer according to different ratios of basal and topdressing fertilizer. Fertilization mainly supplements the three nutrient elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Taking the 15-13-17 formula fertilizer as an example, the application rate is 50-65 kg per mu. Where conditions permit, cotton fields should also be given more organic fertilizer such as barnyard manure and decomposed straw. Fertilization method: for cotton fields irrigated to build moisture, adopt the method of applying fertilizer first and then watering, so that nutrients infiltrate with the water, and only harrowing is needed without plowing; for cotton fields where organic fertilizer is applied and dryland cotton fields, adopt furrow fertilization, which also has an obvious yield-increasing effect.

3. Selecting superior varieties. (1) High yield potential, mainly strong boll-setting ability; (2) high resistance to Fusarium wilt and resistance (tolerance) to Verticillium wilt; (3) growth period: medium maturity in southern Hebei and medium-early maturity type in central Hebei; (4) strong growth vigor and good late-stage development, which can prevent or reduce premature senescence; (5) strong insect resistance, highly resistant to cotton bollworm.

4. Determining sowing date. The suitable sowing date is after the last frost, that is, at the end of the cold spell and the beginning of warm weather. Generally, the suitable sowing date in central and southern Hebei is around April 25, and in eastern Hebei (Tangshan, Langfang) it is from the end of April to May 5. Before sowing, spray and mix with soil using trifluralin or acetochlor at 100-125 g per mu.

5. Machine sowing and row spacing arrangement. Before sowing, coat the cotton seed with insecticide and fungicide, and adopt precision machine sowing, herbicide spraying and film mulching in one combined machine operation. Use a wide-narrow row arrangement of 45-50 cm and 90-120 cm, or uniform row planting at 80 cm.

6. Thinning and removing the film. Thin the seedlings when there are 2-3 true leaves, and at the same time remove weak seedlings, diseased seedlings, etc. After thinning, remove the plastic film when there are 3-4 true leaves. 7. Field management. Watering from the full bud stage to the full flowering stage is a key measure to prevent premature senescence of cotton, and the usual irrigation amount is 40-50 cubic meters per mu. Top the main stem in mid-July, leaving 11-13 fruiting branches per plant. In July and August, if there is continuous rainy weather, if the cotton plants grow excessively, use mepiquat chloride for chemical regulation. The use of mepiquat chloride should be controlled according to the cotton growth condition and the amount of rainfall. The usual rates are 1-1.5 g per mu at the full bud stage, 2-3 g per mu at the early flowering stage, and 3-4 g per mu at the full flowering stage.

8. Pest and disease control. During the emergence period, if there is damage by cutworms, broadcast poisoned bait for control. In mid-May, use imidacloprid, etc. to control cotton aphids, thrips, etc., and use abamectin, propargite, etc. to control red spider mites (carmine spider mites). In the early occurrence stage of cotton bollworm and plant bugs, use organophosphorus, pyrethroid pesticides, etc. for control 1-2 times.

9. Picking and grading. After September, pick flowers once every 7-10 days, picking fully opened cotton boll lint. After picking in the morning, dry for two days; after picking in the afternoon, dry for one day. Remove stiff-petaled flowers, and sell by grade or store in stacks.