As the autumn harvest approaches, over 1.7 million mu of cotton in Wusu City, Tacheng Prefecture, has entered the boll-opening stage. Local townships are capitalizing on favorable weather conditions, guided by agricultural authorities, to organize crop protection drone operations for applying defoliant agents. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen late-stage cotton field management and ensure a bountiful harvest.
On September 17th, in the fields of Qiu Chengzhong, a farmer from Baojiazhuangzi Village in Ganhezi Township, a crop protection drone completed the defoliant application across his 80 mu of cotton in less than one hour. The drone-based operation not only delivers high efficiency with superior atomization and utilization of the chemical agent, but it also eliminates damage to cotton plants caused by heavy machinery rolling over them, thereby enhancing the quality of the eventual harvest. Qiu noted that since his cotton boll opening rate has exceeded 40%, applying the defoliant ensures that leaves drop cleanly, resulting in fewer impurities and better fiber quality. He added that this process accelerates boll opening and allows for earlier collection.
Applying defoliant is a critical step that determines both cotton yield and quality. Scientific application of the agent accelerates plant maturation and helps separate the bolls from the branches, creating ideal conditions for mechanical harvesting. The widespread use 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 the same village, shared that he began the first round of defoliant spraying on September 3rd, covering approximately 5,000 mu. He is currently conducting a second pass, scheduled for completion by September 25th, bringing his total seasonal workload to roughly 10,000 mu. After deducting all operational expenses, he expects to earn about 20,000 yuan from this work.
Shang Hui, a propaganda officer for Ganhezi Township, reported that the township has planted 205,000 mu of cotton this year. More than 30 crop protection drones have been dispatched to carry out defoliant spraying in an orderly manner, based on the boll-opening progress of the fields. Full-scale cotton harvesting is expected to begin in early October. She emphasized that spraying defoliant aligns perfectly with mechanical harvesting operations, allowing for a cotton cleaning rate of over 98%.
To ensure that the defoliant operations remain scientifically sound and standardized, the Wusu Agricultural and Rural Bureau has dispatched agronomists to the frontline of the fields. These experts provide on-site guidance to growers, taking into account cotton growth conditions, boll-opening progress, and local weather patterns, strictly managing the quality of the spraying process. Zumina Tursunjiang, Party Branch Secretary of the Wusu Agricultural Technology and Machinery Service Center, explained that their technicians are working directly in the fields to help farmers determine the appropriate temperature and timing for application, while also standardizing the formulation of chemical mixes. Through these precise technical services, the quality of leaf removal is guaranteed, impurity levels are reduced, and a solid foundation is laid for efficient, high-quality mechanized harvesting.
This season, Wusu City has comprehensively invested in a fleet of 1,190 crop protection drones to perform the defoliant spraying operations across its cotton fields. All townships are actively seizing the farming window to manage late-season crop care, with city-wide mechanized cotton harvesting expected to commence in early October.