• Authors:
    • Liu, S.
    • Jiang, S.
    • Liu, S.
    • Hu, W.
    • Wan, S.
    • Kang, Y.
    • Wang, R.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 110
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: In order to evaluate the effects of different amounts of water, applied by drip irrigation, to a saline-sodic soil (surface ECe > 40 dS/m; SAR > 40), on cotton growth and soil salinity, a three-year experiment was conducted on a saline wasteland in Xinjiang Northwest China during 2008-2010. Five water treatments were used for this experiment based on the soil-water matric potential (SMP) measured 20 cm beneath a drip emitter located close to the plant: the SMP levels used to determine when to irrigate were -5 kPa (S1), -10 kPa (S2). -15 kPa (S3), -20 kPa (S4), and -25 kPa (S5). After three years, both the soil salinity (ECe) and sodicity (SAR) declined significantly in 0-120 cm depth and more reduction were achieved in 0-40 cm soil depth than in 40-80 and 80-120 cm depths. Moreover, the reductions of SAR were smaller than those of ECe. Additionally, the amount of salt removed from the 0 to 80 cm depth decreased with decreasing SMP threshold. The S1 treatment resulted in the highest lint yields in 2009 and 2010. Considering the effects of leached salts on the environment of deep soil layer and the yield of cotton, an SMP of -10 kPa can be used to trigger irrigation for cotton in the first three years for saline wasteland reclamation in Xinjiang Northwest China. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Manzur, C. L.
    • Cai, D.
    • Zhang, G.
    • Wu, H.
    • Wu, X.
    • Zheng, Y.
    • Hu, Y.
    • Zhao, Q.
    • Wang, X.
  • Source: Irrigation Science
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The field experiment for cotton crop (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was conducted at the Zhongjie Farm, Huanghua city of Hebei province in the coastal salinity-affected areas in North China Plain, to determine the effects of an alternative of irrigation water sources/methods and agronomic practices on seedling emergence and yields of cotton, soil water-salt distributions, and soil pH changes during cotton growth stages. The experiment was setup using split-plot design with two water sources as main treatments (well water/desalinized sea-ice water); two irrigation methods (+PAM (Polyacrylamide)/-PAM); and four fertilization modes: check (CK), mineral fertilizer (F), mineral + organic fertilizer (FM), and mineral fertilizer + gypsum (FG). Using desalinized sea-ice water irrigation showed the same effects on top-soil salt leaching and desalinization as using well water did. There was no significant difference in seedling emergence and cotton yields between two irrigation water sources for cotton irrigation. Using PAM-treated irrigation, the 10-cm top-soil salinity significantly decreased to about 2.3-3.9 g kg(-1) from 4.6 to 8.6 g kg(-1) (PAM untreated). The PAM-treated irrigation increased seedling emergence by about 13, 29 and 36% and yields by about 50, 49, and 70%, with F, FM, and FG, respectively, as compared with CK. PAM-treated irrigation, either using well water or desalinized sea ice, especially in combination with gypsum-fertilization, shows the best practice for both seedling emergence and cotton yields. In conclusion, the desalinized sea-ice water used as an alternative water source, integrated with better agronomic practices of soil water-salt management could be acceptable for cotton irrigation in the coastal saline areas.
  • Authors:
    • Hulugalle, N. R.
    • Ghadiri, H.
    • Weaver, T. B.
    • Harden, S.
  • Source: Chemosphere
  • Volume: 88
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) such as DDT and DDE have been detected in the surface 0.2 m of Vertisols in the lower Namoi Valley of north western New South Wales, Australia even though they have not been applied to crops since 1982. However, their presence in the deeper soil horizons has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine if OCPs were present to a depth of 1.2 m in Vertisols under irrigated cotton farming systems in the lower Namoi Valley of New South Wales. Soil was sampled from the 0-1.2 m depths in three sites, viz. the Australian Cotton Research Institute, ACRI, near Narrabri (149 degrees 36'E, 30 degrees 12'S), and two cotton farms near Wee Waa (149 degrees 27'E, 30 degrees 13'S) and Merah North (149 degrees 18'E, 30 degrees 12'S) in northern New South Wales, Australia. The OCPs detected and their metabolites were alpha-endo-sulfan, beta-endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, DDD, DDE, DDT and endrin. The metabolite DDE, a breakdown product of DDT, was the most persistent OCP in all depths analysed. Endosulfan sulphate was the second most persistent followed by endrin > alpha-endosulfan > beta-endosulfan > DDT and DDD. DDT was sprayed extensively in the lower Namoi Valley up to the early 1980s and may explain the persistence of DDE in the majority of soil samples. Dicofol and Dieldrin. two OCPs previously undocumented in Vertisols were also detected. The movement of OCPs into the subsoil of Vertisols may occur when irrigation or rain transports soil colloids and organic matter via preferential flow systems into the deeper layers of a soil profile. Persistence of OCPs was closely correlated to soil organic carbon concentrations. The persistence in soil of OCP's applied to cotton crops grown more than two decades ago suggests that they could enter the food chain. Their presence at depths of 1.2 m suggests that they could move into groundwater that may eventually be used for domestic and stock consumption. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Wang, J.
    • Wang, X. J.
    • Ma, T. F.
    • Wei, C. .Z.
  • Source: Journal of Arid Land
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Quantitative information on the fate and efficiency of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied to coarse textured calcareous soils in arid farming systems is scarce but, as systems intensify, is essential to support sustainable agronomic management decisions. A mesh house study was undertaken to trace the fate of N fertilizer applied to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv., Huiyuan701) growing on a reconstructed profile (0-100 cm) of a calcareous (>15% CaCO3) sandy loam soil. Two irrigation methods (drip irrigation, DI; and furrow irrigation, Fl) and four N application rates (0, 240, 360 and 480 kg/hm(2), abbreviated as N-0, N-240, N-360, and N-480, respectively) were applied. N-15-labelled urea fertilizer was applied in a split application. DI enhanced the biomass of whole plant and all parts of the plant, except for root; more fertilizer N was taken up and mostly stored in vegetative parts; N utilization efficiency (NUE) was significantly greater than in Fl. N utilization efficiency (NUE) decreased from 52.59% in N-240 to 36.44% in N-480. N residue in soil and plant N uptake increased with increased N dosage, but recovery rate decreased consistently both in DI and Fl. Plant N uptake and soil N residue were greater in DI than in FI. N residue mainly stayed within 0-40 cm depth in DI but within 40-80 cm depth in Fl. Fl showed 17.89% of N leached out, but no N leaching occurred in DI. N recovery rate in the soil-plant system was 75.82% in DI, which was markedly greater than the 55.97% in Fl. DI exhibited greater NUE, greater residual N in the soil profile and therefore greater N recovery rate than in Fl; also, N distribution in soil profile shallowed in DI, resulting in a reduced risk of N leaching compared to Fl; and enhanced shoot growth and reduced root growth in DI is beneficial for more economic yield formation. Compared to furrow irrigation, drip irrigation is an irrigation method where N movement favors the prevention of N from being lost in the plant-soil system and benefits a more efficient use of N.
  • Authors:
    • Mullinix, B. G.,Jr.
    • Keeling, J. W.
    • Bordovsky, J. P.
    • Wheeler, T. A.
    • Woodward, J. E.
  • Source: Plant Disease
  • Volume: 96
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted under center-pivot irrigation in four wedges, with one wedge in continuous cotton (CC) and three wedges in a rotation (ROT) with 2 years cotton and 1 year in sorghum. Three irrigation rates (base = 1.0B, 1.5B, and 0.5B) were applied during 2007 to 2009 on a susceptible (ST) and partially resistant (PR) cultivar. Nitrogen applied during the season was proportional to irrigation rate. In the ROT wedges, 0.5B, 1.0B, and 1.5B irrigation and nitrogen rates averaged 1, 3, and 9% incidence of wilt, respectively. Disease incidence in the CC wedge averaged 6, 18, and 34% wilt incidence for 0.5B, 1.0B, and 1.5B irrigation and nitrogen rates. In the ROT wedges, the ST cultivar returned $143/ha more than the PR cultivars at the 0.5B irrigation and nitrogen rate whereas, at the 1.0B and 1.5B rates, the PR cultivars averaged $121 and $350/ha more than the ST cultivar. There was no significant irrigation and nitrogen or cultivar effect in the CC wedge on net value; however, trends were similar to the ROT wedge. Overall, ROT returned $285/ha more than CC, PR cultivars returned $123/ha more than the ST cultivar, and 1.0B returned $271 and $296/ha more than 0.5B and 1.5B rates, respectively. Microsclerotia density of V. dahliae averaged 2/cm(3) of soil in the ROT wedges and 23/cm(3) of soil in the CC wedge. Crop rotation, avoiding excessive irrigation, and using a partially resistant cultivar all reduced incidence of Verticillium wilt and improved net returns.
  • Authors:
    • Li, Z.
    • Duan, L.
    • Tian, X.
    • Zhang,J.
    • Zhang, M.
    • Yue, Y.
  • Source: Journal of Experimental Botany
  • Volume: 63
  • Issue: 10
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Drought is the major environmental stress that limits cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production worldwide. LOS5/ABA3 (LOS5) encodes a molybdenum co-factor and is essential for activating aldehyde oxidase, which is involved in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. In this study, a LOS5 cDNA of Arabidopsis thaliana was overexpressed in cotton cultivar Zhongmiansuo35 (Z35) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The transformation and overexpression of AtLOS5 were assessed by PCR and RT-PCR analysis. Detached shoots of transgenic cotton showed slower transpirational water loss than those of Z35. When pot-grown 6-week-old seedlings were withheld from watering for 3 d, transgenic cotton accumulated 25% more endogenous ABA and about 20% more proline than Z35 plants. The transgenic plants also showed increased expression of some drought-responding genes such as P5CS and RD22, and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Their membrane integrity was considerably improved under water stress, as indicated by reduced malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage relative to control plants. When the pot-grown plants were subjected to deficit irrigation for 8 weeks (watering to 50% of field capacity), transgenic plants showed a 13% increase in fresh weight than the wild type under the same drought condition. These results suggest that the AtLOS5 transgenic cotton plants acquired a better drought tolerance through enhanced ABA production and ABA-induced physiological regulations.
  • Authors:
    • Chachalis, D.
    • Mavromatis, A.
    • Khah, E. M.
    • Kostoula, S.
    • Zaxos, D.
    • Sakellariou, M.
  • Source: International Journal of Plant Production
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The effect of row spacings and irrigation levels on the earliness of seed production of cotton was investigated under the Mediterranean environment of central Greece. This particular cotton growing area is exposed to risk of autumn rainfall that might cause low seed quality in fields allocated primarily for seed production. Two varieties of cotton, Celia and Hersi, were planted in two row spacings (93 and 75 cm) and two irrigation levels (normal and low levels 6160 and 3080 mm ha(-1)). No significant difference in the yield was found among the two varieties, nor between the two row spacings. The low irrigation level had significantly negative effects on the number of squares, bolls, total dry weight and seed cotton production when compared with irrigation level. However, the low irrigation level resulted in a harvest earlier by ten days, which contributed to avoiding autumn rainfall. Seed quality (measured by germination and Warm-Cold Vigour Index Test) was better in seeds from the low irrigation level than in those from the normal irrigation level. Although yield of both varieties was higher under normal irrigation, seed quality was lower compared to low irrigation level. This was evidenced by the higher Free Fatty Acid (FFA) in "normally" irrigated plants. The results of this study showed that low irrigation level offers substantial benefits for early harvesting and production of high seed quality. Moreover, the FFA could be successfully employed as a quick criterion for seed quality ranking.
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, W. F.
    • Zhang, Y. L.
    • Luo, H. H.
    • Wang, J.
    • Yang, L.
    • Zhang, Q. B.
  • Source: China Agriculture Science
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Objective: It is of great significance to explore the effects of different irrigation methods and fertilization measures on soil carbon balance in cotton field during cotton growth season in arid region, and to compare the effects of different management practices on soil carbon sequestration intensity in cotton field. Method: Two-factor experiments with two irrigation methods and four fertilizer treatments were conducted during cotton growth period. Drip irrigation and flood irrigation were arranged as two different irrigation methods and organic manure (OM), N P K fertilizer (NPK), combined application of NPK fertilizer and organic manure (NPK+OM) and no fertilization (CK) were arranged as four fertilizer treatments. Soil respiration rate in cotton field was measured by LI-8100 automated soil CO 2 efflux system and root contribution of soil respiration was detected by root exclusion method. Soil carbon sequestration intensity in cotton field under different irrigation methods and fertilization measures was analyzed by calculating net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Result: Under the conditions of different irrigation methods and fertilization measures, seasonal variation of cropland soil respiration rate showed an increase at first, then followed a declining trend with air temperature change. Soil respiration rate reached a peak in mid-July and then reduced to the minimum in mid-October after cotton harvest. Soil carbon emission under drip irrigation was larger than that under flood irrigation, and under the same irrigation condition, the soil carbon emission with NPK+OM treatment was the highest, then with OM, CK, NPK in turn. The ratio of root respiration contribution to soil respiration was fluctuated between 36.38% and 58.74% under drip irrigation method, whereas between 33.73% and 52.03% under flood irrigation method. Root respiration contribution was the highest at the boiling stage. During the whole growth period, the root respiration contribution under drip irrigation and flood irrigation was averagely 48.05% and 44.31%, respectively. The order of net primary productivity (NPP) of cropland was NPK+OM > NPK > OM > CK under different irrigation methods in the whole season. Cotton field was carbon sink under different management practices in the whole season, and the intensity of carbon sink under drip irrigation was stronger than that under flood irrigation. Under the same irrigation condition, the order of the intensity of carbon sink was NPK+OM > NPK > OM > CK. Under the condition of interaction between irrigation method and fertilization measure, the carbon sink intensity was the strongest under drip irrigation method and NPK+OM. Conclusion: In arid region, cotton production using cropland management measures, such as water saving technology of drip irrigation under mulch, combined application of NPK fertilizer and organic manure and straw returning, could not only increase soil organic carbon content, fertilize the soil fertility and improve cotton yield, but also promote to fix carbon and reduce discharge.
  • Authors:
    • Luo,Y.
    • Zhou,C.
  • Source: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Panzhuang Irrigation District is one of the Yellow River irrigation areas. The spatial and temporal distribution of water resources is severely uneven in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the irrigation district. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to study the differences of crop water consumption (evapotranspiration-ET), irrigation amount, soil water and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat, summer maize and cotton which are the main crops in the irrigation district. This paper improved calculating methods of the capillary rise and percolation of the established model. The model was then applied to the upper, middle and lower reaches of the irrigation district. Conclusions by the model simulation were as follows: (I) The model could simulate the dynamics of water balance components of wheat-maize and cotton relatively accurately in the irrigation district. (II) Winter wheat and summer maize (wheat-maize) had the highest ET in the upper reaches, followed by the middle reaches and then the lower reaches. There was almost no difference for cotton ET in the upper, middle and lower reaches. (III) Irrigation amount of wheat-maize was 225-300 mm in the upstream, 300 mm in the middle reaches, and 500 mm in the downstream. Cotton irrigation quantity was 60-150 mm in the upper and middle reaches, and 60-390 mm in the lower reaches. (IV) Soil water basically showed a decreasing trend in growth periods of wheat-maize and cotton in the middle and lower reaches, its recharge was primarily from irrigation of wheat. Combined with other references, there was a trend of soil drying in the North China Plain. (V) Mean values of water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat, summer maize and cotton were highest in the middle reaches and lowest in the upstream and downstream.
  • Authors:
    • Li, J.
    • Xu, Y.
    • Yang, J.
    • Liu, J.
    • Wang, J.
    • Zhou, S.
  • Source: Hydrological Processes
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Eddy covariance flux measurements were performed at a cotton crop site of an oasis in northern Xinjiang, northwest China from 2008 to 2010 in order to study ecosystem evapotranspiration (ET). The soil surface area was approximately 80% covered by plastic film mulch and a cotton crop was grown with a mean population density of around 24 plants m-2 under drip irrigation. The total annual ET was measured to be 560 mm, which was 350 mm more than the average annual mean precipitation for the time period 19632006. Due to the low vapor pressure deficit associated with low temperatures, the ET was low from November to March. The ET totaled 538 mm during the cotton crop growing season, generally from early-April through mid-October. Mean daily ecosystem ET was 1.41.6 mm day-1 in April and May, 3.44.7 mm day-1 from June through August, 1.82.3 mm day-1 in September and 0.70.8 mm day-1 in October. The diurnal variations of ET in all months were consistent with those of net radiation, although the leaf area index (LAI) and climate conditions changed substantially. Soil water content was not a limiting factor for ET during the period from April through September, as the crop was regularly irrigated. Therefore, ET was mainly controlled by the available energy in April and May, and by leaf area from June through September. Due to a complete lack of irrigation, ET was constrained by soil water in October. These results of ET variability are helpful for improved allocation of water resources and agricultural water use practices in the region. Copyright (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.