The fragility of Cotton seeds when the climatic conditions are not in favor increases many folds. There are some key points to keep in mind for planting cotton every year.
Let’s discuss some tips for optimum cotton plantation & How to avoid some major problems related to it:
1. Nitrogen: Too much is bad, Too little is also bad
Nitrogen is needed for cotton yield but too much amount of Nitrogen leads to excessive growth & delay in maturity. This can be fatal & the goal should be to run out of nitrogen or very less nitrogen towards the end of August. The main goal is to have mature bolls ahead of winter season.
2. Potash is very important for Cotton
Potash is very important for cotton for various reasons. The uptake of Potash is higher than nitrogen during the boll fill period. Low Potash will delay the maturity of cotton & leads to quality issues.
3. To Germinate, Cotton needs warm soil
The seeds should be protected from extreme low temperatures. When cotton is germinating & if the soil temperature is less than 10 degrees then it can damage the plant for the entire season. For planting cotton the soil temperature should always be 16 degree Celsius or more. Cotton should be protected from extreme monsoon conditions as well.
4. In Good Moisture, Plant one inch deep
Cotton should be planted one inch or one & half inches in good moisture. When planting using a measuring stick is a good idea as the chances of getting too deep are more.
5. Start & Stay Clean
Always try to keep your cotton crops as clean as possible. Multiple layers of residual herbicides are advised. Always do your research on best herbicides & always use only them.
6. Be Cautious of Season Insects
Heavy fruits of the labor is the goal with cotton, but there are various insects that can damage that. You should be aggressive on early season insects but after bloom try avoiding insecticides if possible. If you have corn crops nearby, you should watch for late season insects that will be moving out of maturing corn crops.
