How is cotton grown? A detailed explanation of the planting method
Cotton is one of the most important crops in the world. It is a crop introduced into our country with a long history of cultivation, and it is currently widely planted in our country as well. Today's cotton is not only used in the weaving industry, but can also be used to make beauty products and cut flower materials, among other things. Its use value has been expanded, which has also raised cotton's economic value. So today what the editor wants to teach everyone is the cotton planting method. Let's learn about it together.
1. Seed selection and land preparation
There are many cotton varieties now, such as white cotton, colored cotton, yellow cotton, gray cotton, etc., so the cotton varieties suitable for planting differ from region to region. Therefore, we should choose local high-yield and high-quality varieties for planting according to the local planting environment. Next is the selection and preparation of the planting site. Cotton's water demand and fertilizer demand are both relatively large, so the soil at the planting site should be fertile, well-drained, loose in texture, and moderate in pH. The land should be deeply plowed, the impurities in the soil should be cleaned out, and after applying sufficient base fertilizer, the land should be turned over again. Before planting, the soil should be watered once to keep the soil moist, which is beneficial to the growth of the cotton root system.
2. Scientific planting
Cotton is generally planted by transplanting seedlings, which means we need to go through a period of seedling raising, and when the seedlings grow to a certain extent, they are then transplanted into the field. When sowing, sow as early as possible, because this can avoid many pests and diseases. When sowing, we all use the drill sowing method, with the distance between each row at about 20 cm. Sprinkle the seeds evenly into the furrow, then cover with soil to hide the seeds, water once, and it is best to cover the top with a layer of straw or plastic film, which can play a role in keeping warm and moist, and is also beneficial to the emergence of cotton seeds. But note that after the seeds emerge, they should be removed in time to avoid seedling burn.
3. Field management
Cotton field management work is actually relatively complicated, because compared with the planting management of other crops, the workload is relatively greater. In the early stage of cotton planting, we should ensure a full stand of seedlings and prevent seedling-stage pests and diseases. In addition, after each watering, rainfall, or field work, intertillage and weeding should be carried out to maintain soil permeability. In the middle stage of cotton growth, that is, during the cotton bud stage, we need to carry out management work such as topdressing, watering, intertillage, and earthing up. Topdressing is mainly to promote the growth of cotton plants and promote the uniformity of bud growth. Not only root fertilization but also foliar fertilizer should be applied together. Finally, there is the middle and late stage management of cotton growth, which we also call the boll-opening stage. This period can be said to be the key period for high yield and high quality of cotton. We need to do a good job in pruning and removing excess branches, chemical regulation, intertillage and weeding, as well as foliar topdressing and watering and drainage.
4. Pest and disease control
During the entire growth process of cotton, its pests and diseases are actually still relatively frequent. For example, during the seedling stage, the most common pests and diseases include damping-off disease, anthracnose, cotton aphids, cutworms, etc. We can use pesticides such as ethylicin, hymexazol, pirimicarb, and phoxim for control respectively. In the later stage, the most important thing is to prevent the harm of insect pests to cotton, mainly including mirids, aphids, cotton bollworms, etc. We can use fipronil, high-concentration imidacloprid, and emamectin benzoate plus beta-cypermethrin to spray before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
The above is just a brief introduction to everyone about cotton planting and management techniques. If you want to learn more detailed cotton planting and management methods, remember to follow our subsequent exciting content, or leave us a message directly for consultation.