Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application
To identify optimal strategies for high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation under a “short-season direct-seeded cotton with once-only irrigation” regime, we conducted two-year field experiments (2022 and 2023) using a split-plot factorial design with three planting densities (30,000 (D1), 45,000 (...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Zhangshu Xie Yeling Qin Xuefang Xie Xiaoju Tu Aiyu Liu Zhonghua Zhou |
| author_facet | Zhangshu Xie Yeling Qin Xuefang Xie Xiaoju Tu Aiyu Liu Zhonghua Zhou |
| author_sort | Zhangshu Xie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To identify optimal strategies for high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation under a “short-season direct-seeded cotton with once-only irrigation” regime, we conducted two-year field experiments (2022 and 2023) using a split-plot factorial design with three planting densities (30,000 (D1), 45,000 (D2), and 60,000 (D3) plants·ha<sup>−1</sup>) and three nitrogen application rates (150 (N1), 180 (N2), and 210 (N3) kg·ha<sup>−1</sup>). Our study systematically examined how these treatment combinations influenced canopy architecture, physiological traits, yield components, and fiber quality. The results showed that increased planting density significantly enhanced plant height, the leaf area index (LAI), and the number of fruiting branches, with the highest density (D3) contributing to a more compact and efficient canopy. Moderate nitrogen input (N2) significantly increased peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, delayed functional leaf senescence, and prolonged the canopy’s photosynthetic performance. A significant interaction between planting density and nitrogen application was observed. The D3N2 treatment (high density with moderate nitrogen) consistently achieved the highest fruiting branch count, boll number per plant, and yields of both seed cotton and lint in both years, while maintaining stable fiber quality. This indicates its strong capacity to balance high yield with quality and maintain physiological resilience. By contrast, the D1N1 treatment (low density and low nitrogen) exhibited a loose canopy, premature photosynthetic decline, and the lowest yield. The D3N3 treatment (high density and high nitrogen) promoted vigorous early growth but reduced stress tolerance during later growth stages, leading to yield instability. These findings demonstrate that moderately increasing planting density while maintaining appropriate nitrogen levels can effectively optimize canopy structure, improve stress resilience, and enhance yield under short-season direct-seeded cotton systems with once-only irrigation. This provides both theoretical underpinning and practical guidance for achieving stable and efficient cotton production under such systems. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-0a962cc4aadc4100ab2dff1f868dd2112025-08-20T03:29:48ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011412186410.3390/plants14121864Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen ApplicationZhangshu Xie0Yeling Qin1Xuefang Xie2Xiaoju Tu3Aiyu Liu4Zhonghua Zhou5Cotton Research Institute, Agronomy College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaCotton Research Institute, Agronomy College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaRubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaCotton Research Institute, Agronomy College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaCotton Research Institute, Agronomy College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaCotton Research Institute, Agronomy College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaTo identify optimal strategies for high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation under a “short-season direct-seeded cotton with once-only irrigation” regime, we conducted two-year field experiments (2022 and 2023) using a split-plot factorial design with three planting densities (30,000 (D1), 45,000 (D2), and 60,000 (D3) plants·ha<sup>−1</sup>) and three nitrogen application rates (150 (N1), 180 (N2), and 210 (N3) kg·ha<sup>−1</sup>). Our study systematically examined how these treatment combinations influenced canopy architecture, physiological traits, yield components, and fiber quality. The results showed that increased planting density significantly enhanced plant height, the leaf area index (LAI), and the number of fruiting branches, with the highest density (D3) contributing to a more compact and efficient canopy. Moderate nitrogen input (N2) significantly increased peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, delayed functional leaf senescence, and prolonged the canopy’s photosynthetic performance. A significant interaction between planting density and nitrogen application was observed. The D3N2 treatment (high density with moderate nitrogen) consistently achieved the highest fruiting branch count, boll number per plant, and yields of both seed cotton and lint in both years, while maintaining stable fiber quality. This indicates its strong capacity to balance high yield with quality and maintain physiological resilience. By contrast, the D1N1 treatment (low density and low nitrogen) exhibited a loose canopy, premature photosynthetic decline, and the lowest yield. The D3N3 treatment (high density and high nitrogen) promoted vigorous early growth but reduced stress tolerance during later growth stages, leading to yield instability. These findings demonstrate that moderately increasing planting density while maintaining appropriate nitrogen levels can effectively optimize canopy structure, improve stress resilience, and enhance yield under short-season direct-seeded cotton systems with once-only irrigation. This provides both theoretical underpinning and practical guidance for achieving stable and efficient cotton production under such systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1864cottonshort-season direct seedingonce-only irrigationdensitynitrogen application rateyield |
| spellingShingle | Zhangshu Xie Yeling Qin Xuefang Xie Xiaoju Tu Aiyu Liu Zhonghua Zhou Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application Plants cotton short-season direct seeding once-only irrigation density nitrogen application rate yield |
| title | Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application |
| title_full | Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application |
| title_fullStr | Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application |
| title_short | Short-Season Direct-Seeded Cotton Cultivation Under Once-Only Irrigation Throughout the Growing Season: Investigating the Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application |
| title_sort | short season direct seeded cotton cultivation under once only irrigation throughout the growing season investigating the effects of planting density and nitrogen application |
| topic | cotton short-season direct seeding once-only irrigation density nitrogen application rate yield |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1864 |
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