EFFECTS OF WATER STORAGE IN DEEPER SOIL LAYERS ON GROWTH, YIELD, AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.) IN ARID AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN CHINA†. (20th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Honghai; Zhang, Hongzhi; Han, Huanyong; Hu, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Yali; Zhang, Wangfeng
• Is Part Of: Irrigation and drainage. Volume 63:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2013-09-20
• Subjects: Irrigation engineering -- Periodicals; Drainage -- Periodicals; Flood control -- Periodicals; Sustainable agriculture -- Periodicals; 627.52
• DOI: 10.1002/ird.1793
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1531-0353

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>In order to understand how the available water stored prior to planting (ASWp) affects cotton yield and the relative physiological parameters, we designed two ASWp levels in columns, well‐watered (P<sub>90</sub>) and no watering (P<sub>0</sub>), combined with different water management scenarios during the cotton‐growing period, 70% of field capacity (FC) during the third leaf to boll opening stage (I<sub>70</sub>) and changed the third leaf to flowering stage in 55% of FC and 80% of FC thereafter (I<sub>55‐80</sub>). P<sub>90</sub> enhanced root length density (RLD), surface area density (RSD), and root activity, which in turn increased the efficiency of ASWp usage. A significantly higher leaf water potential, net photosynthesis rate, above‐ground dry matter (DM), and yield were found in P<sub>90</sub> than in P<sub>0</sub>. Under well‐watered conditions, I<sub>55‐80</sub> had a higher RLD in the 40–120 cm layer compared with I<sub>70</sub>. However, root mass density (RMD) and DM in I<sub>55‐80</sub> were significantly decreased that led to marked decreases in yield and, to a lesser extent, in water productivity (WP). Under no watering conditions, yield and WP were significantly increased in I<sub>70</sub> relative to I<sub>55‐80</sub>. It showed that sufficient water in deeper soil layers and a sustained 65–75% of FC could be an appropriate drip irrigation mode for the local cotton field. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>