What Is a Cotton Square? Management Techniques During the Squaring Stage, Causes of Square and Boll Shedding, and Common Diseases
Cotton is a major textile crop in China and is widely used in various textile product industries. It is grown on a very large area in China, and cotton goes through many different growth stages during cultivation. Different growth stages of cotton have different management priorities, and management work is especially important during the cotton squaring stage. So below, the editor brings you the key field management points for cotton. Let's take a look!
1. Timely pruning
Cotton branches and leaves are relatively dense. During the cotton squaring stage, if the branches and leaves are too dense and grow excessively, they will consume too many nutrients. This causes the cotton field to become too closed in, reducing air and light penetration and affecting cotton growth. Therefore, we must do a good job of pruning in time. Generally, when cotton begins to square, the branches, leaves, and excess tiller buds below the branch nodes should be removed. However, on cotton plants in gaps where plants are missing, we should keep about 3 branches and leaves. Then, when about 6 leaf branches have grown, the terminal buds should be removed in time to promote flowering and fruiting and increase yield.
2. Reasonable fertilization
The fertilizer demand during the cotton squaring stage is moderate, but attention must be paid to the nutrient ratio in the fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer must not be applied excessively, because if nitrogen fertilizer is excessive, it can very easily cause cotton to grow excessively, consume too many nutrients, and lead to undesirable conditions such as boll shedding. However, a certain amount of nitrogen fertilizer is also needed. If it is insufficient, cotton plants will not develop enough and yield will decline. Therefore, for cotton seedlings with sufficient fertility and strong growth, we should apply little or no nitrogen fertilizer. On the contrary, soil with poor fertility needs more nitrogen fertilizer. The fertilization time should be controlled at the full squaring stage, avoiding carrying out irrigation and fertilization at the same time, which reduces the effect of fertilization.
3. Intertillage and weeding
Intertillage and weeding are closely related to cotton growth and yield. Especially during the cotton squaring stage, reasonable intertillage work can promote the downward growth of the cotton plant's roots. This is beneficial for the absorption of nutrients and water by cotton and improves cotton's growth capacity. Weeding is to prevent weeds from competing for the nutrients cotton needs for growth, concentrating nutrients on the cotton plants. After each intertillage, attention should also be paid to hilling soil to improve the soil's heat preservation capacity, prevent cotton plants from lodging, and prevent soil erosion. During the rainy season, intertillage should also be combined with drainage work to prevent waterlogging damage.
4. Pest and disease control
Pests and diseases can threaten various parts of the cotton plant, including branches, leaves, and bolls, causing a sharp decline in cotton yield and seriously affecting cotton production. Therefore, during the squaring stage, we should apply pesticides reasonably during the control period according to the control standards. The main targets for pesticide application are lygus bugs and Fusarium wilt. Do the basic work well and strengthen management in all aspects. Observe growth conditions frequently, and when any abnormal situation is found, check it in time. Do not blindly apply pesticides, so as to avoid pesticide damage caused by improper application.
The above is a brief introduction to the key field management points for the cotton squaring stage. No matter which growth stage cotton is in, field management is very important. Because it is directly related to yield and cotton quality, everyone must pay close attention. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can be helpful to everyone.