Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index
Due to the labor shortage, replacing manual topping with chemical topping has become an important practice in cotton-producing areas such as Xinjiang, China. Similarly, increasing planting density is a common strategy to enhance cotton yields. This study aimed to quantify the interactive effects of...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| author | Yutong Zhang Yongfan Chen Shuai Sun Pengzhong Zhang Zeshan Zhang Xuejiao Wang Xuelian Tang Mingfeng Yang Dao Xiang Sen Wang Fen Ji Lizhen Zhang |
| author_facet | Yutong Zhang Yongfan Chen Shuai Sun Pengzhong Zhang Zeshan Zhang Xuejiao Wang Xuelian Tang Mingfeng Yang Dao Xiang Sen Wang Fen Ji Lizhen Zhang |
| author_sort | Yutong Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to the labor shortage, replacing manual topping with chemical topping has become an important practice in cotton-producing areas such as Xinjiang, China. Similarly, increasing planting density is a common strategy to enhance cotton yields. This study aimed to quantify the interactive effects of chemical topping and planting density on cotton growth and assimilate partitioning. To achieve this, a two-year (2020–2021) field experiment was conducted in Xinjiang, China. The main plots were assigned low (15 plants m<sup>−2</sup>) or high plant density (25 plants m<sup>−2</sup>), and the subplots were chemical topping using heavy amounts of mepiquat chloride (MC) or manual topping. The dynamics of dry matter accumulation and partitioning in cotton were well quantified using a beta-growth function with an overall nRMSE of 11.5%. Results indicated that chemical topping increased aboveground dry matter maximum by 4.88%, fruit dry matter maximum by 17.9% and seed cotton yield by 14.0% compared to manual topping. At low plant density, the partitioning index between vegetative and reproductive organs showed no significant differences. However, at high plant density, the time when 50% of assimilate partitioning to reproductive organs for chemical topping was 2.6 physiological days (under optimal temperature conditions) delayed than that for manual topping, resulting in a 2.7 physiological days delay in the time that fruits reached maximum growth rate. The results of the study suggest that applying chemicals for topping a little earlier in high-density planting could reduce the negative effects of delayed boll growth and promote carbon assimilate partitioning to fruit growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1a9dbb3e741b412a9d598e869db2139d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-1a9dbb3e741b412a9d598e869db2139d2025-08-20T02:53:41ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-12-011412301110.3390/agronomy14123011Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning IndexYutong Zhang0Yongfan Chen1Shuai Sun2Pengzhong Zhang3Zeshan Zhang4Xuejiao Wang5Xuelian Tang6Mingfeng Yang7Dao Xiang8Sen Wang9Fen Ji10Lizhen Zhang11Agricultural Meteorology Department, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaAgricultural Meteorology Department, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaInstitute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, ChinaChina National Cotton R&D Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, ChinaAgricultural Meteorology Department, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaXinjiang Agrometeorological Observatory, Urumqi 830002, ChinaAgricultural Meteorology Department, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaWulanwusu Agrometeorological Station, Shihezi 832199, ChinaWulanwusu Agrometeorological Station, Shihezi 832199, ChinaXinjiang Agrometeorological Observatory, Urumqi 830002, ChinaWulanwusu Agrometeorological Station, Shihezi 832199, ChinaAgricultural Meteorology Department, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDue to the labor shortage, replacing manual topping with chemical topping has become an important practice in cotton-producing areas such as Xinjiang, China. Similarly, increasing planting density is a common strategy to enhance cotton yields. This study aimed to quantify the interactive effects of chemical topping and planting density on cotton growth and assimilate partitioning. To achieve this, a two-year (2020–2021) field experiment was conducted in Xinjiang, China. The main plots were assigned low (15 plants m<sup>−2</sup>) or high plant density (25 plants m<sup>−2</sup>), and the subplots were chemical topping using heavy amounts of mepiquat chloride (MC) or manual topping. The dynamics of dry matter accumulation and partitioning in cotton were well quantified using a beta-growth function with an overall nRMSE of 11.5%. Results indicated that chemical topping increased aboveground dry matter maximum by 4.88%, fruit dry matter maximum by 17.9% and seed cotton yield by 14.0% compared to manual topping. At low plant density, the partitioning index between vegetative and reproductive organs showed no significant differences. However, at high plant density, the time when 50% of assimilate partitioning to reproductive organs for chemical topping was 2.6 physiological days (under optimal temperature conditions) delayed than that for manual topping, resulting in a 2.7 physiological days delay in the time that fruits reached maximum growth rate. The results of the study suggest that applying chemicals for topping a little earlier in high-density planting could reduce the negative effects of delayed boll growth and promote carbon assimilate partitioning to fruit growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3011growth dynamicsassimilate partitioningbeta growth functionmaximum dry matterseed cotton yieldtopping method |
| spellingShingle | Yutong Zhang Yongfan Chen Shuai Sun Pengzhong Zhang Zeshan Zhang Xuejiao Wang Xuelian Tang Mingfeng Yang Dao Xiang Sen Wang Fen Ji Lizhen Zhang Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index Agronomy growth dynamics assimilate partitioning beta growth function maximum dry matter seed cotton yield topping method |
| title | Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index |
| title_full | Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index |
| title_fullStr | Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index |
| title_short | Chemical Topping and Planting Density Interactively Affect Cotton Growth and Partitioning Index |
| title_sort | chemical topping and planting density interactively affect cotton growth and partitioning index |
| topic | growth dynamics assimilate partitioning beta growth function maximum dry matter seed cotton yield topping method |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3011 |
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