How to grow jujube intercropped with cotton? Detailed key points of orchard-style cultivation

In the Aksu region, a three-dimensional planting method of orchard-style jujube-cotton intercropping is practiced, which both promotes the growth of young jujube trees and ensures the yield of intercropped cotton, making it a relatively good cultivation model for improving planting economic benefits.

1. Cultivation indicators

1. Cotton

The suitable variety is Zhongmian 35, with an average harvested plant number of 11,000-12,000 plants/667 sq m, 5.5-6 bolls per plant, 5.0-5.5 g per boll, a lint percentage of 38%-40%, a pre-frost flower rate of >=85%, a lint cotton yield per 667 sq m of >=120 kg, and an income per 667 sq m of more than 1200 yuan.

2. Jujube trees

The suitable variety is Hui jujube, with 111 harvested plants per 667 sq m. After 3 years, the average dry jujube harvest per plant is 1 kg. Calculated at the current purchase price of 15 yuan, each 667 sq m can increase income by 1665 yuan. After 3 years, the income from orchard-style jujube-cotton intercropping is more than 191 times that of the conventional cultivation model, with significant economic benefits.

2. Key cultivation points

1. Jujube tree cultivation

(1) Jujube tree arrangement method In the Aksu region, jujube tree cultivation adopts a 1.5 x 4 m planting pattern, with 111 Hui jujube trees planted per 667 sq m.

(2) Jujube tree planting holes are required to be 40 x 40 x 60 cm.

(3) Base fertilizer application in planting holes requires 5 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per planting hole, mixed evenly with the bottom-layer soil before backfilling with topsoil.

(4) Irrigation Immediately after planting jujube trees, give the first watering, with the principle of watering thoroughly. According to soil moisture, water the second time timely within 15 days to ensure a jujube seedling survival rate above 85%. From jujube planting until cotton's first watering (June 15-20), generally irrigate by furrow once every 10-15 days. Afterward, irrigate the jujube trees together with cotton watering. Before early November, water for overwintering.

(5) Field management After watering or rain, cultivate and loosen the soil timely to preserve water, suppress salt return, and eliminate field weeds. In late May, apply 100 g of urea per plant to promote jujube flowering. In June during full bloom, spray 300-times urea solution once every 10 days, 2-3 times total. In early July during the young fruit stage, apply 0.5 kg of diammonium phosphate per plant to promote fruit growth; in late August after young fruits begin to expand, spray a fruit-drop preventive once to prevent physiological fruit drop.

Before jujube trees sprout (early April), spray 3-5 degrees Baume lime sulfur mixture on the trees to eliminate overwintering insects and eggs. During the jujube growth period, according to the dynamics of pest occurrence, use 1.8% abamectin emulsifiable concentrate at 5000 times, 10% cypermethrin or 5% beta-cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times during the appropriate control period to control jujube red spider mites; spray 40% Supusha emulsifiable concentrate at 3000 times to control jujube scale insects and other pests.

Before overwintering, whitewash the trunks of red jujube trees (formula: water, quicklime, lime sulfur mixture, and salt in a ratio of 10:3:0.5:0.5) to prevent freeze damage and wild hare gnawing of bark; according to the characteristic that the cortex at the root crown of jujube trees is easily frozen to death when covered by snow, tie a 40 cm high cold-proof grass band above ground level, which can effectively improve the overwintering survival rate of jujube trees.

2. Cotton cultivation

(1) Reasonable density The plant-row spacing configuration adopts a strip cultivation pattern, using 1.2 m wide film, 4 rows per film, with a configuration of (10+20+50+20+10+60) x 9.5 cm, and 16512 planting holes per 667 sq m.

(2) Land preparation and sowing Water the bottom moisture well. Jujube-cotton intercropping farmland all needs a winter irrigation plus spring irrigation two-water system to ensure suitable moisture at jujube planting and cotton sowing.

Apply 3-4 tonnes of farmyard manure, 25-30 kg of diammonium phosphate and urea, and 5 kg of potassium fertilizer per 667 sq m by deep application, and plow 30 cm deep into the soil. The field soil layer is required to be fine and broken, with no large clods or residual film, creating conditions for full seedling emergence in one sowing.

Sowing begins on April 5 and ends around April 20. Sow during the optimal suitable sowing period. The sowing rows are required to be straight, the film laid flat, the film pressed firmly, and the covering soil uniform, with a soil covering thickness of 1-1.5 cm, 2-3 seeds per hole, a clean film surface, and a large light-receiving surface.

3. Field management

(1) Thinning Cotton seedlings are thinned after emergence and full stand establishment, retaining strong seedlings, eliminating weak ones, and building up soil around the stems.

(2) Cultivation After thinning, cultivate timely to a depth of 15 cm to help increase temperature and strengthen roots, promote early seedling growth, and eliminate field weeds.

(3) Fertilization In mid-to-late May during the early cotton bud stage, spray foliar fertilizer 1-2 times; from mid-July to mid-August, depending on cotton growth, spray 200 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate + 1% urea solution 3-4 times; before the first watering, mechanically open furrows and apply chemical fertilizer, with 15 kg of diammonium phosphate and 25 kg of urea per 667 sq m.

(4) Irrigation Adhere to the principle of "do not irrigate unless dry, small amounts and multiple times," taking into account both jujube trees and cotton. Cotton's first watering is after mid-June. Before the first watering, remove the film, open furrows, and apply fertilizer. The second and third waterings are determined according to actual conditions. Watering must stop on August 20, otherwise it is unfavorable to jujube tree growth.

(5) Chemical regulation According to cotton growth, determine the time and amount of mepiquat chloride application, and adhere to

the principle of "early, light, frequent." At the early cotton squaring stage, use 0.5-1 g of mepiquat chloride per 667 sq m for light regulation; before the first and second waterings, use 3-5 g of mepiquat chloride per 667 sq m for moderate regulation; 7 days after topping, use 6-7 g of mepiquat chloride per 667 sq m for heavy regulation.

(6) Topping Begin topping around July 15, removing 1 leaf and 1 growing point; in late August remove group tips and ineffective flower buds. For cotton fields with poor ventilation and light penetration, push plants together into ridges to promote early maturity and increase the proportion of pre-frost flowers.

(1) Pest and disease control Cotton aphid: before entering the cotton field, vigorously control overwintering hosts; after entering the cotton field, strengthen monitoring, carry out spot treatment by sections, protect beneficial insects, and control damage.

Cotton thrips: immediately after cotton seedlings emerge, spray with 1.8% abamectin at 3000 times or omethoate at 1500 times for control, with timing controlled before cotton aphid appears in spots.

Cotton bollworm: adhere to integrated control, do a good job of autumn plowing and winter irrigation, remove pupae by clearing ridges, plant trap strips well in the field, use frequency-vibration insect-killing lamps to trap and kill adults, and vigorously control the 2nd and 3rd generation cotton bollworm larvae.

3. Harvesting

1. After cotton bolls open, strictly implement the system of separate picking, separate drying, separate storage, and separate grading @#@136@#@, prohibit foreign matter from being mixed in, and increase the cotton selling price.

2. When the jujube fruits on the trees are ripe, harvest, sun-dry, and grade them timely, taking care to prevent fruit mold and rot from affecting quality.