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ZEST COTTON PRODUCTION TRAINING

This comprehensive training program, held from November 28 to 29, 2013, focuses on the cotton production industry in Zimbabwe. Participants will learn about key stakeholders, economic importance, and current challenges faced by the industry, including price influences. The training covers essential topics such as land preparation, planting techniques, fertility management, and moisture conservation. Practical approaches to weed control and the use of herbicides will also be discussed. This initiative aims to enhance agricultural practices and support sustainable cotton farming.

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ZEST COTTON PRODUCTION TRAINING

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  1. ZEST COTTON PRODUCTION TRAINING Zimbabwe Extension Support and Training Project 28 TO 29 NOVEMBER 2013 TALKMORE MUKUYU mukuyutalk@comone.co.zw

  2. INTRODUCTION • Players/Stakeholders in the industry • Economic importance to; • Households • Districts • Provinces • Nation • Current state of the industry • Prices, who dictates and what are the influences

  3. TERMS IN COTTON • Cotton seed • Seed cotton • Fuss and fuss seed • Acid delinted seed • Lint • Squares • Flowers and bolls • Monopodial branches • Sympodial branches • Germination • Emergence • Ratoon cotton

  4. LAND PREPARATION • Cotton grows slowly first eight weeks. • Conventional ploughing exposes soil to erosion before canopy establishment • Cotton grows well under CA • Rip on row • Direct seeders • Holing out

  5. ROTATIONS

  6. ROTATIONS • Consider the following; • Root depth • Herbicide regime • Soil nitrogen fixing capacity • Soil protection from erosion • Diseases and pests

  7. PLANTING • Time • Depth • Seed rate • Spacing (early planted and late planted • Gap filling • Seedling diseases

  8. FERTILITY MANAGEMENT • Consider; • Soil fertility status • Previous crop • Yield potential • Soil sampling important if resources are available • Soil pH and micro-nutrients essential

  9. FERTILITY MANAGEMENT • LIMING • Soil acidity caused by nitrogenous fertilisers, leaching and parent rock • Acidity restricts nutrient uptake • Apply before basal • Same amount as basal if no soil test done.

  10. NITROGEN • Managing a perennial plant to produce an annual yield • Promotes growth • Excess nitrogen results in rank growth and cannot be reversed • Quarter of total requirement at planting

  11. POTASSIUM • Critical for growth and reproductive development • Most Zimbabwean soils have high levels but removal of crop residues accelerates depletion • Low potash in cotton during boll development results in alternaria and premature defoliation

  12. PHOSPHATE • Required throughout growth, critical during early development for root growth • Placement is important • Most soils in Zimbabwe have low inherent phosphate

  13. Manure/Compost • Thermal compost better in nutrient content than animal manure • Also improves soil structure • Banding in planting furrows or placing in holes more effective than broadcasting

  14. APPLICATION • All potash and phosphate to be applied at or before planting below planting level • One quarter of nitrogen at planting • In sandy soils half of nitrogen balance at 6 wks and at flowering • In heavier soils the balance applied once at flowering or eight weeks

  15. MICRONUTRIENTS Magnesium • Dolomitic lime usually replenishes soil magnesium. • Magnesium important in chlorophyll (green matter) of the leaves Sulphur • Critical in the seed oil production Boron • Required for fruiting and deficiency results in flower and small bolls abortion

  16. MOISTURE CONSERVATION • Minimum soil disturbance at planting • Mulching • Potholing • Alternate inter-row ripping • Timeous weed control • Weed free winter period

  17. WEED CONTROL • Weeds compete for nutrients, moisture, and light • First eight weeks critical • Late weeds interfere with picking and contaminate seed cotton

  18. METHODS • Hand weeding (hoes) • Mechanical weeding • Chemical weed control • Combinations of the above

  19. Herbicide Practical • Calibration • Mixing • Application • Safe use of chemicals

  20. Pre-plant incorporated • These require to be incorporated into the soil • Suitable for controlling grasses • Small scale farmers may not have the implements to do this • Trif, Trifluralin, Trump, Planavin

  21. Pre-emergent • Mainly used for control of broad leaf weeds • Cotoran, Bladex, Cotogard, and Gesagard for heavier soils. • Cotogard may be used in soils with 10 – 20 % clay

  22. Post emergence • Cotoran, Gesagard, Diuron, Bladex may be used as lay by post emergent • Directed spraying with Roundup on emerged weeds, especially to control nutsedge and morning glory, wandering jew and couch grass.

  23. THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

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