As the 1.7 million mu of cotton in Wusu City, Tacheng Prefecture, enters its boll-opening stage, local townships are seizing favorable weather conditions. Guided by agricultural departments, plant protection drones are being deployed for defoliant spraying operations to strengthen late-stage field management and ensure a rich harvest.

On September 17th, a drone was seen spraying defoliant over an 80-mu cotton field owned by villager Qiu Chengzhong in Baojiazhuangzi Village, Ganhezi Town. The entire operation was completed in less than an hour. Drone operations not only offer high efficiency, superior atomization, and better chemical utilization but also prevent mechanical damage to cotton plants from heavy machinery, thereby improving harvest quality.

Qiu Chengzhong noted that his cotton's boll opening rate exceeded 40 percent. The application of defoliant removes leaves cleanly, reduces impurities in the harvested cotton, enhances quality, accelerates boll opening, and enables earlier harvesting.

Spraying defoliant is a critical step that determines cotton yield and quality. Scientific application accelerates maturity, separates bolls from stems, and creates ideal conditions for mechanical harvesting. The widespread adoption of drone spraying technology has not only boosted field management efficiency but also opened new income avenues for local operators.

Wang Ming, a drone pilot from Baojiazhuangzi Village, Ganhezi Town, has been busy since September 3rd. He said he completed the first defoliant pass covering approximately 5,000 mu. Now undertaking the second pass, he expects to finish by September 25th. His total operation area is projected at around 10,000 mu, and after deducting expenses, he anticipates earning about 20,000 yuan.

Shang Hui, a publicity officer from Ganhezi Town, reported that the town planted 205,000 mu of cotton this year. More than 30 plant protection drones have been deployed, carrying out defoliant spraying in sequence based on crop development. Full-scale cotton harvesting is expected to begin in early October. The defoliant application is well suited to mechanical operations, achieving a harvest rate exceeding 98 percent.

To ensure scientific and standardized defoliation, the Wusu Agricultural and Rural Bureau has sent technical staff to the fields. Combined with cotton growth conditions, boll opening progress, and meteorological factors, they are providing on-site guidance to growers on spraying operations while strictly controlling quality standards.

Zumingna Tuxunjiang, Party branch secretary of the Wusu Agricultural Technology and Agricultural Machinery Service Center, emphasized that technicians are working directly in the fields. Farmers are being instructed on appropriate spraying temperatures and timing, as well as scientifically precise chemical ratios. Through accurate technical services, they aim to safeguard defoliation quality, lower impurity rates, and lay a solid foundation for efficient, high-quality machine-picked cotton.

This year, Wusu City has coordinated the deployment of 1,190 plant protection drones for cotton defoliant operations. Townships are seizing the farming season to advance late-stage management. Citywide mechanized cotton harvesting is expected to commence in full in early October.