In June, especially in the northern regions of China, where rainfall is low and temperatures are high, proper watering is essential. While it's important to provide adequate moisture, overwatering should be avoided to prevent prolonged cotton bud growth. After irrigation or heavy rain, timely soil cultivation should be done to encourage root development and promote a more compact plant structure.
For fertilization, apply 5–6 kg of urea, 15–20 kg of potassium chloride, 1 kg of zinc sulfate, and 1 kg of borax per mu (approximately 667 square meters) to support high yield potential. Fertilizers should be applied at a depth of around 15 cm from the base of the plants. During the budding stage, special attention should be given to weak seedlings to help them recover and grow stronger.
Pruning should be carried out strategically to retain leaves and encourage the development of 2–3 fruit branches. The top of the plant should be pinched to stimulate bud formation, flowering, and fruit setting. This process is typically done before and after June 20th, with the removal of 4–8 early shoots on lower fruit branches or 2–3 fruiting nodes to regulate the flowering period, ideally aligning it with July 10th. This ensures that the peak blooming period coincides with high temperatures, abundant sunlight, and sufficient water availability.
Soil cultivation should be performed promptly if the soil becomes compacted due to watering, rain, or snow. During the budding phase, deep cultivation to a depth of 8–10 cm is recommended. For fields showing excessive growth, the depth can be increased to over 10 cm to cut some lateral roots, reduce the number of root groups, and control the growth of stems and leaves.
Pest control should follow the principle of “fewer applications, stronger concentration, no unnecessary spraying, and no mixing with fertilizers†to avoid chemical damage. Typically, four rounds of pesticide application are used starting from the budding stage, with the first application ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 grams per 667 square meters, depending on field conditions. The timing and dosage may vary based on the specific needs of each cotton field.
Common pests during the budding stage include the second generation of bollworms, aphids, red spider mites, and blind bugs. Preventive measures should focus on controlling the second-generation bollworms, while also monitoring for blind bugs and treating them promptly. It's crucial to eliminate adult pests entering the cotton fields and implement preventive treatments in advance to minimize damage.
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