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How to plant vegetables in cotton fields
Last year, the decline in cotton output and production significantly dampened farmers' enthusiasm for growing cotton. In response, the government has introduced a series of policies aimed at reducing the area under cotton cultivation, optimizing planting models, focusing on yield improvement, and enhancing overall profitability. One key approach is intercropping vegetables in cotton fields, especially in areas with suitable conditions, to boost income.
Based on years of agricultural experience, farmers can intercrop vegetables in cotton fields from July to August. In other seasons, they can plant vegetables in the wide rows during spring and in the cotton rows before or after the main crop in autumn and winter. Suitable spring crops include peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, melons, leeks, and cauliflower. Autumn and winter crops may consist of Chinese cabbage, broccoli, radishes, spinach, and more. This method can increase income by 300–500 yuan per mu, sometimes even over 800 yuan. Additionally, the use of mulch in cotton fields has also been improved.
There is indeed a symbiotic relationship between fertilizers, water, temperature, and light in intercropped systems. When properly managed, these factors can coexist without conflict. According to the Yunmeng County Soil and Fertilizer Station, soil in intercropped cotton fields showed higher levels of organic matter (0.37% higher), alkaline nitrogen (41ppm higher), available phosphorus (27.5ppm higher), and potassium oxide (172ppm higher) compared to non-cultivated fields. With proper planning, the competition for light, water, and temperature can be effectively balanced.
For instance, in Xiaogan City, measurements showed that in cotton fields intercropped with early-maturing peppers, the light intensity was 20,033 lux—slightly lower than in single-plant pepper fields—but this did not negatively affect the peppers, as they don’t require high light intensity. In Xijiang Township, Hanchuan City, the soil surface temperature in the cotton field was 14°C, 0.8°C higher than in the regular cotton field, and the moisture content was 23.3%, 8.2% higher. These conditions support better growth for both crops.
To address ecological conflicts caused by the different maturation periods of cotton and vegetables, several technical considerations should be followed:
First, planting methods must be carefully planned. For example, cotton rows should not be closer than 1 meter apart, with a density of about 1,400 plants per mu. When planting peppers in spring, two rows of cotton are typically used, with around 3,000 plants per mu. For melons, one row of cotton is planted with about 150 plants per mu. In autumn, when planting cabbages, two rows of cotton are used, with approximately 2,500 plants per acre.
Second, timely harvesting of vegetables is essential. Spring crops should be harvested before mid-July, while autumn crops should be planted before the cotton bolls begin to open.
Third, fertilizer application should prioritize organic options, avoiding excessive nitrogen. Bio-organic compound fertilizers, such as those containing conjugated enzymes, are recommended, with a small amount of inorganic compound fertilizers added to ensure long-term fertility, high yields, and quality.
Finally, chemical regulation should be used sparingly. From the budding stage, plant growth regulators like mepiquat chloride or methotrexate can be applied with diluted solutions. The concentration should start low and gradually increase as needed, ensuring optimal growth without over-stimulation.