Review on Utilization of Vegetative Branches of Cotton Plants

Authors Dong Hezhong; Li Weijiang; Li Zhenhuai; Tang Wei; Zhang Dongmei

Journal Cotton Science , ,:

Abstract Removal of vegetative branches on cot-ton plants is a traditional agronomic technique in China. Scientific research and practice showed that retaining vegetative branches on cotton plants may result in positive effects as contribu-tion of partial economical yield, supplying par-tial assimilation to roots, and saving labor, whereas causes negative effects as inhibition of the growth and development of main stem and fruiting branches by competition for inorganic nutrients. If positive effects predominate, there appear increased yield and efficiency, and vice versa. The magnitude of positive or negative effects could be regulated with agronomic tech-niques. Guaranteed with matched agronomic techniques, cotton plants with vegetative bran-ches usually bring more yield than those without vegetative branches. Studies on utilization meas-ures of vegetative branches should be furthered to develop cultivation techniques in cotton pro-duction.