• Authors:
    • Chauhan, S. N.
    • Kumari, P. R. V.
    • Tayade, A. S.
    • Reddy, A. R.
    • Thakare, S. K.
    • Majumdar, G.
    • Raju, A. R.
    • Mahalle, P. S.
    • Katore, J. R.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Series of field trials were conducted during 1987-2010 at Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur indicated that in shallow, medium and deep soils, it was estimated to collect 150, 300 and 350 M 3 of runoff water/ha in experimental ponds (200 M 3) at down stream by September end, 56-82 per cent of the pond capacity, was stored. The recycling of this runoff water through supplemental irrigation during 1987-1993, improved additional seed cotton yield by 136, 290 and 387 kg/ha or 20, 28 and 26 per cent over rainfed cotton LRA 5166 in shallow, medium and deep soils respectively. The supplemental irrigations improved WUE by 34, 73 and 97 kg/ha cm respectively in shallow, medium and deep soils. Experimental pond (200 M 3) size presently advocated, were not accepted by the farmers as they were economically non viable at field scale, but these can be helpful in improving the recharge of existing gravitational wells. Two supplemental irrigations at flowering stage along with deficient micronutrients improved seed cotton yields of 25-30 per cent higher in shallow and medium deep soils, respectively during 2002-2007 in NHH 44 non Bt hybrid cotton. It is difficult to provide life saving irrigations from farm ponds in first fortnight of July to seedling droughts. Large farm ponds at community levels can solve this problem of seedling droughts from the recharge of previous year in underground aquifers besides recharging the drinking water wells for summer shortages with 2-3 years of breakeven under multiple uses of water. Terminal droughts of August can overcome by supplemental irrigations from farm ponds of 10 ha catchment with a breakeven of 12 years. Bt hybrid cotton responded for two supplemental irrigations from harvested runoff water at seedling/terminal droughts in July (12-47% runoff) or in mid September (23-80% runoff) @ 750 kg/ha seed cotton yield in vertisols.
  • Authors:
    • Yi, L.
    • Xin, R.
    • Min, L.
    • Lijun, G.
    • Man, F.
  • Source: Nongye Jixie Xuebao = Transactions of the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In order to seek the variations of soil water repellency and its relationship with soil moisture content, soil salt content and pH value, soils samples were collected in two profiles at two grids (intervals were 10 cm * 10 cm and 5 cm * 5 cm, respectively) in a newly cultivated cotton field mulched with plastic film and irrigated with trickle method in Xinjiang. The soil water repellency, soil moisture content, soil salt content and pH value of the profiles were tested and analyzed using the methods of classical statistics, geostatistics and correlation analysis. The results showed that the soil water repellency had moderate variability and the spatial auto-correlation was under the level of the middle class in secondary saline field profiles. The strongest soil water repellency appeared around the depth of 40 cm and the characteristics of soil water repellency were not obvious when the depth was deeper than 80 cm. The soil moisture content and the soil water repellency appeared to be positively related at 0-40 cm depth and negatively related at 40-80 cm depth. Soil salt content and soil water repellency appeared to be positively related to the surface soil layer at 0-10 cm depth but negatively related to the other depth. The pH value and the soil water repellency mostly were generally positively related.
  • Authors:
    • Irshad, M
    • Ahmad, R
  • Source: Soil & Environment
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Boron (B), one of the essential micronutrients, plays vital role in plant growth. Thirty one field experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of wheat, rice and cotton to B application throughout Pakistan during 2005-08. Boron was applied at 1 kg ha -1 as Borax decahydrate (11.3% B) at different times along with recommended doses of N, P and K. The results revealed that B application at sowing time to wheat increased significantly the number of tillers plant -1 (15%), number of grains spike -1 (11%), 1000-grain weight (7%) and grain yield (10%) over control. Among the treatments, B application at sowing time showed best results followed by B application at 1st irrigation and at booting stage. In rice (coarse), B application before transplanting substantially increased number of tillers hill -1 (21%), plant height (3%), panicle length (10%), and number of paddy grains panicle -1 (17%), 1000-grain weight (11%) and paddy yield (31%) over control. Response of fine rice to B application was similar for all yield parameters as in coarse rice. In cotton, B application considerably increased plant height (3%), number of mature bolls plant -1 (12%), seed weight boll -1 (8%) and seed cotton yield (9%) over control. Although, B application at all stages significantly increased yield parameters tested but B application at sowing time was best among all treatments.
  • Authors:
    • Moreno, M. F.
    • Diaz, M.
    • Roldan, J.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Issue: 889
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Irrigation water management in the Genil-Cabra irrigation district, located in the province of Cordoba, southern Spain, was studied using three irrigation performance indicators: relative irrigation supply (RIS); relative water supply (RWS) and relative rainfall supply (RRS). All indicators have been calculated as in a global way as grouping data according to crop type, irrigation method and soil texture. All information of agronomic and hydraulic variables was incorporated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to ease its management. Results show that applied irrigations are deficit irrigations because RIS values are relatively low. However, RWS values are greater and evaporative demand may be satisfied along crop development cycle. RRS indicator varies less than the other two and, together with RWS, permits to know the evapotranspiration fraction covers by rain water. Irrigation water management in four crops (olive, cotton, sunflower and maize) is considered to be adequate. In the case of sugar beet and asparagus, the deficit is larger. Wheat and garlic are the two crops that show inefficient management due to an excess supply of water. RWS and RIS values are higher for sprinkler irrigation than for drip irrigation. Soil type has little influence on irrigation management. In general, more water is applied to crops planted in sandy loam soils than in silty clay loam soils. The mean values of performance indicators we have calculated are very useful to know farmer's behaviour and the general trend, although the used sample is not significant to characterize the global irrigation district.
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, T. Z.
    • Yusuf, Z.
    • Nabila, T.
    • Ihsan, U.
    • Guo, W. Z.
    • Mehboob-ur-Rahman
    • Saeed, M.
  • Source: Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Increasing scarcity of irrigation water is a major threat to sustainable production of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). Identifying genomic regions contributing to abiotic stress tolerance will help develop cotton cultivars suitable for water-limited regions through molecular marker-assisted breeding. A molecular mapping F 2 population was derived from an intraspecific cross of the drought sensitive G. hirsutum cv. FH-901 and drought tolerant G. hirsutum cv. RH-510. Field data were recorded on physiological traits (osmotic potential and osmotic adjustment); yield and its component traits (seedcotton yield, number of bolls/plant and boll weight); and plant architecture traits (plant height and number of nodes per plant) for F 2, F 2:3 and F 2:4 generations under well-watered versus water-limited growth conditions. The two parents were surveyed for polymorphism using 6500 SSR primer pairs. Joinmap3.0 software was used to construct linkage map with 64 polymorphic markers and it resulted into 35 markers mapped on 12 linkage groups. QTL analysis was performed by composite interval mapping (CIM) using QTL Cartographer2.5 software. In total, 7 QTLs (osmotic potential 2, osmotic adjustment 1, seedcotton yield 1, number of bolls/plant 1, boll weight 1 and plant height 1) were identified. There were three QTLs ( qtlOP-2, qtlOA-1, and qtlPH-1) detected only in water-limited conditions. Two QTLs ( qtlSC-1 and qtlBW-1) were detected for relative values. Two QTLs ( qtlOP-1 and qtlBN-1) were detected for well-watered treatment. Significant QTLs detected in this study can be employed in MAS for molecular breeding programs aiming at developing drought tolerant cotton cultivars.
  • Authors:
    • Patil, B. V.
    • Sagar, D.
  • Source: Journal of Entomological Research
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Bt cotton genotypes under investigation (BG, BG-II) responded similarly for egg population of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) with no differential susceptibility. With respect to larval incidence and damage due to H. armigera, Earias vittella (Fabricius), Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) all the second generation Bt cotton genotypes performed better over Bollgard cotton under unprotected condition. Interspecific Bt cotton genotypes were found superior with respect to good opened bolls per plant, bad opened bolls per plant, total number of harvested bolls per plant, seed cotton yield and benefit cost ratio over intraspecific Bt cotton genotypes. Among interspecific Bt cotton genotypes MRC-7918 Bt (BG-II) proved better than the MRC-6918 Bt (BG-I) and with in intraspecific Bt cotton genotypes NCS-145 Bt (BG-I) proved better in all yield contributing factors and benefit cost ratio than NCS-145 Bt (BG-II).
  • Authors:
    • Javaid, A.
    • Mahmood-ul-Hassan
    • Alam, S. S.
    • Saleem, M.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Significant effect of different irrigation schedules and integrated nutrition levels was determined on fraction of intercepted radiation (Fi) in cotton. The treatments were four irrigation schedules viz, six irrigations (I-1), three irrigations (I-2), irrigation at 25 mm deficit (I-3) and irrigation at 50 mm deficit (14), and seven integrated nutrition levels i.e. control (No), 75-37.5-37.5 kg NM ha(-1) (N-1), 75-37.5-37.5 kg NPK ha(-1) + FYM (farm yard manure) @ 20 t ha(-1) (N-2), 75-37.5-37.5 kg NPK. ha-(1) + wheat straw@ St ha(-1) (N3), 150-75-75 kg NPK ha(-1) (N-4), 150-75-75 kg NM + FYM @20 t ha(-1) (N-5), 150-75-75 kg NPK ha(-1) + wheat straw @ 5 t ha(-1) (N-6). Positive and linear relationships were established between Fi and total dry flatter (TDM); and Fi and seed cotton yield. Significantly higher Fi values were attained when the crop was planted at N-5 with any of three irrigation schedules viz. I-1, or I-3 or I-4. The highest values of Fi (0.914 in first year and 0.913 in second year of study) were recorded with I4N5 which were followed by I3N5 and I1N5. The interactions I4N5, I3N5 and I1N5 harvested 23.51, 23.38 and 20.27 % greater Fi to I2N0.
  • Authors:
    • Xu, L.
    • Zhang, P.
    • Guo, W.
    • Liu, R.
    • Yang, C.
  • Source: Jiangsu Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: To investigate the effect of wheat-cotton double cropping system on cotton, planting pattern experiments in field were conducted in 2009-2010, with wheat-cotton intercropping system as control. The indexes of development characteristics and yield component of cotton were analyzed. The results were showed as follows. In wheat-cotton intercropping treatment, the development process was earlier, and the forming of fruit node and boll was longer and more than those of cotton transplanted after wheat harvest. The later autumn boll percent was only 3.2%-4.7% and the rate of blossom before frost was 88.6%-95.7%. The cotton in intercropping system also had high biomass and harmonious relationship between vegetative growth and reproduction. For cotton transplanted after wheat harvest treatments, the dry matters were low and pre-summer bolls were few. For cotton with substrate or nutrition treatment, the forming of fruit node and boll was later and less than those of cotton with intercropping treatment, the late autumn boll percents were 11.8%-20.8%, and the rate of blossom before frost was 77.2%-90.7%. The seed yield of cotton with substrate treatment was lower than that of cotton with intercropping treatment, but higher than that of cotton with nutrition treatment. For direct seeding cotton of medium-matured variety after wheat harvest, the reproductive growth was later and weaker. The forming of fruit node and boll was later and had no obvious peak, which easily caused invalid growth at later stage. The late autumn boll percent was 24.5%-34.0% and the rate of blossom before frost and seed yield were low. For direct seeding cotton of early-matured variety after wheat harvest, the transforming growth from vegetative to reproductive growth was earlier. The forming of fruit node and boll was concentrated with higher peak value and the total dry matter in reproductive organ was higher. The late autumn boll percent was only 3.3% and the rate of blossom before frost was 88.0%. The seed yield was equal to that of cotton transplanted after wheat harvest. As a result, the yield of cotton in intercropping system was higher and more stable, and that of transplanted cotton might be potential, while that of direct seedling cotton depended on the variety characteristics.
  • Authors:
    • Li, Z.
    • Zhang, M.
    • Sun, X.
    • Song, X.
    • Zhao, Q.
  • Source: Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Science
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Soil microorganism quantities and enzyme activities were studied in fields under wheat-cotton and garlic-cotton intercropping systems. Compared with cotton monoculture, both intercropping systems proved to be conducive to the proliferation of soil bacteria and actinomycetales and inhibited proliferation of fungi, the effects of the garlic-cotton intercropping system being more pronounced than those of the wheat-cotton intercropping system. Throughout the growth period of the cotton crop, soil urease activity and sucrase activity in 0-20 cm soil layer in the garlic-cotton intercropping system were significantly higher than in cotton monoculture, and the alkaline phosphatase activity in the garlic-cotton intercropping system was significantly higher than that in the cotton monoculture except at the flowering and blooming stages of cotton. The catalase activities in the garlic-cotton intercropping system at the seedling stage and boll-opening stage were significantly higher than in cotton monoculture. In the wheat-cotton intercropping system, soil urease activity and sucrase activity in the 0-20 cm soil layer at the seedling, flowering and boll stages of cotton were higher than in cotton monoculture, alkaline phosphatase activity at the bud stage was significantly higher than in cotton monoculture, and catalase activity at the seedling and boll opening stages was significantly higher than in cotton monoculture. In conclusion, the garlic-cotton and the wheat-cotton intercropping systems can increase the quantities of soil bacteria and actinomycetales, thus effectively suppressing the occurrence of succession cropping obstacles in cotton fields, and they also increase the activities of soil-related enzymes, which is good for creating healthy soil in cotton fields.
  • Authors:
    • Brye, K.
    • Smith, A.
    • Fortin, C.
    • Nalley, L.
    • Popp, M.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In this study, we developed a technique for estimating soil C sequestration from crop production with detailed spatial differences in production practices, tillage effects, and soil textures often overlooked when modeling state-level implications of climate change policies. The model also tracks C equivalent (CE) emissions from fertilizer, fuel, and agricultural chemical use. Using Arkansas as an example, a model that maximizes crop returns to producers in conjunction with C offset payments allowed estimation of probable changes in county-level cropping patterns and income as a result of varying C prices. While income ramifications of a C-offset climate change policy are positive, significant uncertainty about resultant greenhouse gas (GHG) effects are demonstrated. Crops included were corn ( Zea mays L.), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.), grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.], rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and wheat ( Triticum spp.). As a result of this detailed analysis, two caveats are that (i) policy recommendations hinge on a baseline scenario that would change with changes in input and output price levels, with these interactions not modeled within, and (ii) monitoring costs of a C-offset market could be significant.