What causes fertilizer burn in cotton, and how should it be prevented and controlled?

Cotton is an important cash crop in China, with a long history of cultivation and a very wide planting area. However, during cultivation, improper management can lead to fertilizer burn, causing large areas of cotton to wilt and, in severe cases, to dry up and die. So how should fertilizer burn in cotton be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look.

I. Causes of fertilizer burn

1. One-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer

In production, many people believe that nitrogen fertilizer promotes plant growth, so whenever crops are growing well, they directly apply nitrogen fertilizer. The more nitrogen fertilizer applied, the more severe the fertilizer burn. Especially highly volatile nitrogen fertilizers can easily cause crops to suffer fertilizer burn. Blindly applying nitrogen fertilizer also leads to the accumulation of nitrate in the crop, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop off.

2. Excessive amount of topdressing

Each time you topdress, you must pay attention to the amount. If too much chemical fertilizer is applied at once, the fertilizer concentration in the soil will become too high, and the plant roots' absorption of nutrients and water will be affected, resulting in fertilizer burn.

3. Application of undecomposed organic fertilizer

When applying organic fertilizer, if the organic fertilizer has not been fully decomposed, after application its decomposition will release large amounts of organic acids and heat, causing the plant roots to burn.

4. Topdressing too close to the root system

Because chemical fertilizers decompose quickly, if the fertilizer is applied right against the root system during topdressing, the decomposition of the chemical fertilizer will cause fertilizer burn in the crop.

II. Prevention and control measures

1. Rational fertilization

When fertilizing, a scientific formula must be mastered. Each growth stage of the plant has different fertilizer requirements, so one-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer is not advisable. Especially in the middle and late growth stages, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be appropriately increased to promote balanced growth of the plant.

2. Do not apply undecomposed organic fertilizer

Organic fertilizer must be fully decomposed before application. In particular, poultry and livestock manure must be piled and fermented before it can be mixed with chemical fertilizer and applied.

3. Increase the application of organic fertilizer

Applying an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer during topdressing can have a strong adsorption effect on cations, keeping their concentration from becoming too high, regulating soil structure, and reducing the occurrence of fertilizer burn.

4. Pay attention to spacing when fertilizing

When fertilizing, keep a distance of about 10 cm from the crop root system, and also apply the fertilizer deeply. After fertilizing, cover with soil immediately to avoid burning the seedlings. If the soil is dry, irrigate promptly to lower the concentration.

The above is an introduction to the causes of fertilizer burn in cotton and the prevention and control methods. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.