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Clever use of nutrients to fight in time
In the cotton-growing community, the management of vegetative branches has long been a topic of intense discussion. During my visit to the Shanxi cotton region in late June to early July, I observed three common practices: (1) removing all vegetative shoots, (2) leaving them all untouched, and (3) selectively keeping some while removing others. In my view, the first two methods are not ideal.
Vegetative branches, also known as leafy shoots or "crazy rice," play an important role in cotton cultivation. Although they don’t produce flowers directly, they can develop into fruiting branches, which then flower and set bolls. This helps fill gaps in plant spacing and compensates for weak individual plants, making the most of the peak flowering period and increasing yield per mu. For example, varieties like Xinkang No.4, Zhongmian 23, and Guoxin No.3 can develop fruiting branches from the second or third leaf node, and sometimes even from the first. Therefore, in low-density, high-fertility fields, it’s beneficial to leave one or two vegetative shoots per plant to maximize individual plant potential.
Another key point is selecting the strongest vegetative branches to retain. Some farmers mistakenly believe that thick vegetative shoots compete with the main stem for nutrients and remove them, leaving only weaker ones. This is counterproductive. The retained vegetative branches grow after 3–4 fruiting branches and start contributing around mid-July at the latest. It's crucial to manage this timing properly.
Additionally, the timing of pruning vegetative shoots matters. Pruning too early or too late can be harmful. Some farmers claim their variety is “lazy†and doesn’t require pruning, but this often leads to poor results. Leaving too many vegetative shoots wastes water and nutrients, reduces air circulation, and increases boll shedding. On the other hand, some large-scale growers avoid pruning entirely, believing it’s unnecessary, but this approach may not yield the best results, especially in dense or small-spaced fields.
In contrast, completely removing all vegetative shoots early—especially in wide-row fields—can lead to underutilized space and poor canopy closure. While the plants may appear healthy, they often produce fewer bolls, leading to inefficient use of land, sunlight, and heat. This issue occurs frequently each year.
The right approach is to selectively keep and remove vegetative branches based on their strength and growth potential. Strong vegetative branches should be kept, while weak ones should be removed. Varieties with strong vegetative growth have greater potential for high yields when managed properly.
Regarding the timing of topping the main stem, it depends on the number of fruiting branches. In general fertile areas, a plant typically has 12–13 fruiting branches. In high-fertility, low-density hybrid fields, up to 14–15 fruiting branches may be acceptable. However, in thin soil and high-density conditions, 9–11 is usually enough. If a field doesn’t grow much without topping, it’s better to top it and allow 3 buds to grow from the top fruit branch. If no buds form, it means the topping was too late.
Traditionally, northern cotton regions topped before or after July 20th, but with the introduction of Bt cotton, which grows faster, this date is no longer suitable. The topping time should be adjusted based on the number of fruiting branches. Early topping allows for a few days earlier, while delayed topping is okay if needed. Avoid over-retaining fruiting branches, as this can create tower-shaped plants with thin, short, and empty upper branches.