Sharing of High-Yield Cotton Cultivation Experience and Practical Techniques

I. Pre-Sowing Preparation First, purchase high-quality cotton seed. It is recommended to change seed every year. Never be tempted by cheap prices to use second- or third-generation cotton seed, because saved seed reduces yield by about 10% each year. Use about 1.5 kg of seed per mu. Sun the seed before sowing for a cumulative total of no less than 30 hours, turning it constantly. Be careful not to spread it directly on concrete, brick, or metal surfaces. Before sowing, build up soil moisture in good time and preserve it, so that sowing is done with adequate soil moisture.

II. Scientific Fertilization Apply ample basal fertilizer. Generally, apply 3-4 cubic meters of high-quality farmyard manure per mu, 10 kg of urea, 20 kg of diammonium phosphate, 20 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, and 2 kg of micro-fertilizers such as boron, zinc, manganese, and iron.

III. Timely Sowing Sowing too early causes incomplete emergence due to low temperatures, worsens seedling-stage diseases, and leads to premature senescence later; sowing too late easily causes excessive vegetative growth, bolls set higher on the plant, missing the optimal boll stage, and is unfavorable for high yield. The best sowing period is around April 20. Sowing depth is about 3 cm. According to soil moisture, generally keep it no deeper than one cun and no shallower than exposing the seed. On good-moisture, relatively clayey soil, sow slightly shallower; on poor-moisture sandy soil, sow slightly deeper.

IV. Reasonable Close Planting On sandy soil and poor-fertility land, plant appropriately densely; on clayey soil and fertile land, plant appropriately sparsely. My approach is: wide-and-narrow row planting, with wide rows about 1 m apart, narrow rows 55 cm apart, and plant spacing about 40 cm. Plant with a tractor using plastic film mulching. At present, quite a number of cotton farmers leave too many seedlings at the seedling stage, so the cotton canopy closes early, ventilation and light penetration are poor, photosynthesis is reduced, square and boll shedding is serious, cotton pests and diseases worsen, ineffective fruiting branches increase, field operations are hindered, and cotton yield and quality decline, affecting income.

V. Topdressing and Irrigation Generally, no irrigation is needed at the seedling stage. At the flowering and boll stage, topdress 20 kg of urea per mu. In the early flowering stage, when drought generally lasts about 15 days and leaves begin to wilt slightly at noon, irrigate promptly. Even if it rains, irrigate if the rain does not soak through. Finally, after the cotton bolls open, if drought occurs, irrigate once as well. This can improve root vigor, delay cotton senescence, increase boll weight, and raise yield by about 10%.

VI. Chemical Regulation and Topping Scientific use of mepiquat chloride and chlormequat is a key measure for building a high-yield framework and achieving high yield. Chemical regulation begins at the squaring stage. At 6-8 leaves, use 0.5 g of mepiquat chloride per mu; at the early flowering stage, use 1.5 g per mu; after topping, use 3 g per mu. Follow the principle of "light first, heavy later; small amounts, multiple times." For topping, follow "top when the time comes, not waiting for branches; when branches come, judge by growth vigor." Generally, complete topping in cotton fields from July 15 to 20.

VII. Pest and Disease Control At the seedling stage, you may choose Tianda 2116 plus hymexazol plus imidacloprid, which can prevent disease and control insects. Thereafter, add carbendazim solution to each spray for sterilization. Rotate the use of pesticides such as phoxim, malathion, cypermethrin, and abamectin to control cotton bollworm, mirids, red spiders, and others. While spraying, alternately add potassium dihydrogen phosphate, urea, micro-fertilizers, and so on.

VIII. Find Ways to Save Labor and Time Saving labor and time is an important part of reducing costs, because each labor-day saved now means saving 30-40 yuan.

1. Spraying. Use high-concentration, low-volume spraying. The principle is to use an amount comparable to the usual pesticide dose, but spray in one go three times the amount normally used for one spraying at about 9-day intervals. Each tank of spray covers about 3 mu. The method is: high throttle, small water valve, walk backward, avoid windy weather, let the spray liquid form a mist and fall freely, spray two ridges per pass. Wear long trousers and a long jacket, and wear glasses and a mask to prevent poisoning. Spray before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.; if cloudy, you can work all day. In this way, spraying about once every 30 days can achieve the desired control effect and save a great deal of labor.

2. Pruning. At the first cotton pruning at the end of June, leave 1-2 leaf branches. This can greatly reduce the growth of redundant buds (mao'erduo), reduce the supply of ineffective nutrients, and save much labor. Around July 15, remove the terminal bud and the leaf-branch tips together. The leaf branches can also set 3-5 bolls, equivalent to a small cotton plant.

By managing cotton according to the above methods, the yield per mu can reach 375-400 kg. Even though cotton prices have declined, a relatively ideal income can still be obtained through high yield.