The secrets of basic fertilization in the early stages of cotton

Cotton is one of the most important industrial plants of Greece with a great contribution to the national economy. It continues to be the main crop of the country with over 45,000 families cultivating it and more than 2 million hectares. The nutrition of cotton, as in all crops, is the key to high yields in the field and in the gin.

Lubrication requirements

Basic fertilization is the basis for establishing and starting the crop. In general, cotton cultivation in its biological cycle requires 12-16 units of Nitrogen (N), 8-12 units of Phosphorus (P) and 6-8 units of Potassium (K).

In addition to the main nutrients that are necessary for the proper establishment of the crop, the elements Boron (B) and Zinc (Zn) also play an important role as they are directly linked to flowering and fruiting. Also, the balance of macronutrients and trace elements in the plant contributes to better absorption of all nutrients.

Basic Lubrication

With the basic fertilization during the establishment of the crop, we aim to cover all those needs that arise during the critical initial stages. The supply of nitrogen contributes to the formation of a healthy above-ground part and a well-developed leaf surface that will favor the plant in the process of filling the nuts, while the use of stabilized forms of nitrogen feeds the crop for a longer period of time, while reducing losses.

The supply of phosphorus in the initial stages contributes to the creation of a strong root system, while the supply of potassium has a decisive role in production by increasing the filling and weight of the nuts.

AGROHELLAS as “”the future in nutrition”” has a wide range of products that strengthen the crop and ensure its nutrition, throughout the growing season.

The 15-15-15 and 20-10-10 formulas are recommended for the basic fertilization of the cotton crop. The phosphorus contained in the above formulas is more than 90% water-soluble, making it fully usable by plants, while in these formulas, prevention technology can be applied to reduce nitrogen losses from the volatility of ammonia.

Although boron is a nutrient required in small amounts by the plant, its deficiency causes problems at various stages such as flowering and fruiting. For this reason, foliar spraying with the BoroAgro formulation is recommended, which will supply the crop with boron and prolong the pollen fertility.

Finally, the application of the microgranular fertilizer Start Micro 12-43-0+Zn from EUROSOLIDS is recommended. This preparation is the tip of the spear in the category of starters, as its unique technology guarantees a 30% increase in the efficiency of phosphorus, due to the release of the ions that are bound to the soil. The combination of phosphorus and zinc increases the growth of new and healthy roots, promotes early plant growth while improving nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in both alkaline and acidic soils. Start Micro 12-43-0+Zn is applied linearly during sowing at a dose of 2kg
the acre.