OFFICIAL STATEMENT
2026-05-13 09:00:00 / News
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
EARN HIGH INCOME FROM COTTON — TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY OUR PRESIDENT!
Appeal of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Council of Farmers of Uzbekistan regarding the declaration of the period from May 10 to June 10 of the current year as the “Shock Month” for cotton care and timely implementation of agrotechnical measures.
Dear dehkans, farmers, and agricultural workers!
Despite the difficult natural conditions of this year, you — our farmers and dehkans — have planted cotton on 889.5 thousand hectares across the republic, including more than 300 thousand hectares using the Xinjiang method, thereby laying the foundation for obtaining 4.5 million tons of cotton harvest.
Due to the rainy weather in the spring of this year, early-sown cotton fields are currently experiencing the spread of pests such as aphids, thrips, and spider mites, as well as diseases including fusarium wilt, wilt, and gommosis during the germination period.
To prevent the spread of pests and diseases, it is necessary to constantly monitor cotton leaves carefully and carry out biological and chemical treatments around the fields.
Failure to combat pests and diseases in a timely manner may result in the loss of 30–40 percent of the expected yield.
Dear hardworking farmers!
From the moment cotton seeds are planted, every farmer counts each day, understanding how much effort and labor are required for the hopeful sprouts to fully germinate.
It is not easy to go through all processes — from severe weather conditions to implementing the most necessary agrotechnical measures.
Most importantly, a farmer truly experiences the sweetness of honest and hard labor only when the cotton harvest ripens, is harvested on time, stored safely, and planned targets are exceeded.
Therefore, starting today, every farm manager should declare a “Shock Month” on their cotton fields.
Dear responsible farmers and dehkans!
Based on the above, in order to obtain a high cotton yield during May and June — the “Current Month” period — we ask you to approach the following agrotechnical measures with even greater responsibility so that you may gain additional income.
FIRSTLY, CULTIVATION OF INTER-ROW SPACES IN DOUBLE-ROW 76×10 CM OPEN-FIELD COTTON PLANTING
The first inter-row cultivation begins after 75–80 percent of seedlings emerge and the rows become clearly visible.
The first direction of the cultivator should be aligned precisely with the track left by the seeding machine.
This helps preserve the protective zone of the cotton rows, prevents damage and burial of plants, and ensures high-quality cultivation.
Cultivators prepared for the first cultivation should be equipped with 5 sweeps, 14 plowshares, 4 right and 4 left spherical discs, and 4 right and 4 left knives. The total number of working parts should be 33–35 units.
On open fields where cotton is planted in a double-row system with 76×10–11 cm spacing, the spherical discs located behind the tractor wheels should move 6–8 cm away from the plant at a depth of 6–7 cm.
After that, the knives operate at a distance of 6–8 cm and depth of 5–6 cm, while the central sweep loosens the soil to a width of 12 cm and depth of 12–14 cm.
During cultivation, tractors must move evenly and at low speed so that air and warmth reach the plant roots, ensuring intensive growth and development.
SECONDLY, CULTIVATION OF INTER-ROW SPACES IN SINGLE-ROW 76 CM COTTON FIELDS
In single-row cotton fields, it is necessary to accelerate seed germination, ensure optimal plant density, and organize the first inter-row cultivation after complete germination.
In this process, the cultivator should be equipped with: a small KKO tool at a depth of 4–6 cm, a plowshare at 6–8 cm depth, and a sweep at 10–12 cm depth.
Cultivation should be carried out with a 66 cm inter-row width and low tractor speed.
As a result, cotton growth and development accelerate, and conditions are created for applying fertilizers at the required depth.
During the first cultivation, it is recommended to install 5 working tools for each row spacing: 2 loosening sweeps, 2 flat-cutting sweeps, and 1 goose-foot sweep.
Untimely and poor-quality inter-row cultivation causes soil moisture loss, damages plant roots, delays plant growth and development by 10–15 days, and reduces cotton yield by 7–8 centners per hectare.
THIRDLY, APPLICATION OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS TO COTTON
Sufficient nutrients during the vegetation period ensure proper cotton growth and development as well as high and quality yields.
Nitrogen deficiency causes leaves to become small and yellow-green, plants to remain short, and fewer cotton bolls to form. Excess nitrogen results in excessive plant growth and delayed ripening.
Phosphorus deficiency slows root development, causes leaves to become smaller with reddish veins and spots, delays the formation of reproductive organs, and lowers crop quality.
Potassium deficiency leads to brown spots on leaves, drying and curling, increases susceptibility to wilt disease, and worsens crop quality.
The norms for phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are determined according to the amount of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium in the soil as well as agrochemical maps.
Annual fertilizer norms are established in the ratio N:P:K = 1:0.7:0.5.
Cotton absorbs fertilizers differently: nitrogen — 30–40%, phosphorus — 15–20%, potassium — 45–50%.
It is known that 20–30% of nitrogen fertilizers evaporate into the atmosphere as gas or are washed into lower soil layers by rainfall and irrigation.
FOURTHLY, FERTILIZING COTTON GROWN USING THE XINJIANG METHOD
On fields where cotton is cultivated using the Xinjiang method, it is recommended to apply 100% of annual phosphorus and potassium fertilizer norms before planting.
During the vegetation period, nitrogen fertilizers in granular form should be applied through drip irrigation using fertigation technology.
At the stage of 3–4 true leaves, 50 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate is recommended.
At the budding stage, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied twice at 75 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate.
At the flowering stage, fertilization should be carried out three times at 100 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate.
FIFTHLY, FERTILIZING OPEN-FIELD COTTON
To achieve yields of 50 centners per hectare and above on double-row and single-row cotton fields, the following fertilizer amounts are recommended:
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Nitrogen — 750 kg/ha (ammonium nitrate),
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Phosphorus — 300 kg/ha (ammophos),
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Potassium — 200 kg/ha (potassium chloride).
On low-fertility soils, fertilizer norms should be increased by 20–25%.
Before planting, it is recommended to apply 70% of the annual phosphorus fertilizer norm and 50% of the potassium fertilizer norm.
The first fertilization should be carried out at the 3–4 leaf stage.
The second — during budding.
The third — at the beginning of flowering.
Timely and high-quality inter-row cultivation as well as application of mineral fertilizers according to established norms guarantee high cotton yields.
SIXTHLY, MEASURES AGAINST TOBACCO THRIPS
Long-term use of the same insecticides may lead to the development of resistant thrips populations. To prevent this, insecticides should be alternated.
During wheat ripening, thrips may migrate massively to cotton fields. Therefore, wheat fields and cotton field borders must be treated in a timely manner.
For biological prevention, it is recommended to release lacewing insects at a rate of 1,500–2,000 per hectare.
If more than 4–5 thrips are detected on one plant, chemical treatment should be carried out.
SEVENTHLY, MEASURES AGAINST SPIDER MITES
Sulfur is one of the most effective and inexpensive means of protecting cotton from spider mites.
It is recommended to place sulfur in piles or spray it along field edges.
The main natural enemy of spider mites is the lacewing insect. It is recommended to release 2,000–2,500 lacewings per hectare.
If 7–8 mites are found on one leaf, chemical pesticides should be applied.
EIGHTHLY, APPLICATION OF GLYPHOSATE HERBICIDE AGAINST WEEDS
Currently, weeds are spreading widely in cotton fields. On fields planted with herbicide-resistant foreign cotton varieties, glyphosate-based herbicides are effective.
Glyphosate is dangerous for local cotton varieties and non-resistant foreign single-gene varieties and may lead to plant death.
Therefore, glyphosate should only be used on genetically modified cotton varieties resistant to glyphosate.
NOTE
First, a 10 m² (10×10) test area should be selected in a field planted with glyphosate-resistant cotton varieties having 3–4 true leaves.
For this area, a working solution should be prepared using 30–40 grams of herbicide mixed with 20–30 liters of water.
If no negative effects on plant development are observed after treatment, the solution may then be applied to the remaining field areas according to established norms.
We call on everyone to carry out the above measures in a timely manner, contribute достойно to the country’s economic development, improve the prosperity of our Motherland, and achieve high cotton yields!