Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems
IntroductionResidual film pollution has become a key factor that affects the sustainable development of cotton, and intercropping may be an economical and environmentally friendly method to reduce the negative effects of nonmulched conditions on cotton growth. We hypothesized that optimizing the cot...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1533211/full |
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| author | Humei Zhang Humei Zhang Liwen Tian Xianzhe Hao Nannan Li Xiaojuan Shi Feng Shi Yu Tian Wenbo Wang Honghai Luo |
| author_facet | Humei Zhang Humei Zhang Liwen Tian Xianzhe Hao Nannan Li Xiaojuan Shi Feng Shi Yu Tian Wenbo Wang Honghai Luo |
| author_sort | Humei Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionResidual film pollution has become a key factor that affects the sustainable development of cotton, and intercropping may be an economical and environmentally friendly method to reduce the negative effects of nonmulched conditions on cotton growth. We hypothesized that optimizing the cotton/cumin intercropping density would improve the soil environment and increase crop productivity and resource utilization.MethodsTherefore, in this study, singlecropping cotton (CK) was used as the control, and three intercropping cumin seeding densities were used (plants ha-1: 5×105, ID1; 8×105, ID2; and 11×105, ID3). Through a two-year field experiment, the effects of cotton-cumin intercropping on the soil moisture, temperature, salt, respiration rate, weed density, cotton yield formation and intercropping advantages were studied.Results and discussionCompared with the CK treatment, the ID2 treatment decreased the water content in the 0–30 cm soil layer by 8.3%, increased the water consumption by 9.1%, increased the soil temperature by 0.5°C, and decreased the electrical conductivity of the 0–15 cm soil layer by 17.7%. Compared with the CK treatment, the ID1 treatment significantly decreased the soil respiration rate by 33.6%, and the weed density decreased in the following order: CK>ID1>ID2>ID3. During the nonsymbiotic period, compared with CK, ID2 increased the soil water content by 5.7%, increased the soil respiration rate by 17.7%, and decreased the electrical conductivity by 15.6%. Compared with those for CK and ID3, the seed yield for ID2 increased by 2.0% and 5.8%, respectively, and that for ID1 decreased by 1.6%. However, the land equivalent of the ID2 treatment was 4.3% greater than that for the ID1 treatment. Therefore, intercropping cumin at a density of 8×105 plants ha-1 is beneficial for increasing surface coverage, significantly increasing crop water consumption, increasing surface temperature, reducing soil electrical conductivity and carbon emissions, and improving the crop yield and economic benefits. This model can be used as an agroecologically friendly and sustainable planting model. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a34bcdb066c54634a92669239f0d9a74 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a34bcdb066c54634a92669239f0d9a742025-02-10T11:16:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-02-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15332111533211Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systemsHumei Zhang0Humei Zhang1Liwen Tian2Xianzhe Hao3Nannan Li4Xiaojuan Shi5Feng Shi6Yu Tian7Wenbo Wang8Honghai Luo9Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaWestern Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, ChinaCotton Research Institute of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Northwest Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shihezi, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaAgricultural Development Service Centre of the Seventh Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Kuitun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, ChinaIntroductionResidual film pollution has become a key factor that affects the sustainable development of cotton, and intercropping may be an economical and environmentally friendly method to reduce the negative effects of nonmulched conditions on cotton growth. We hypothesized that optimizing the cotton/cumin intercropping density would improve the soil environment and increase crop productivity and resource utilization.MethodsTherefore, in this study, singlecropping cotton (CK) was used as the control, and three intercropping cumin seeding densities were used (plants ha-1: 5×105, ID1; 8×105, ID2; and 11×105, ID3). Through a two-year field experiment, the effects of cotton-cumin intercropping on the soil moisture, temperature, salt, respiration rate, weed density, cotton yield formation and intercropping advantages were studied.Results and discussionCompared with the CK treatment, the ID2 treatment decreased the water content in the 0–30 cm soil layer by 8.3%, increased the water consumption by 9.1%, increased the soil temperature by 0.5°C, and decreased the electrical conductivity of the 0–15 cm soil layer by 17.7%. Compared with the CK treatment, the ID1 treatment significantly decreased the soil respiration rate by 33.6%, and the weed density decreased in the following order: CK>ID1>ID2>ID3. During the nonsymbiotic period, compared with CK, ID2 increased the soil water content by 5.7%, increased the soil respiration rate by 17.7%, and decreased the electrical conductivity by 15.6%. Compared with those for CK and ID3, the seed yield for ID2 increased by 2.0% and 5.8%, respectively, and that for ID1 decreased by 1.6%. However, the land equivalent of the ID2 treatment was 4.3% greater than that for the ID1 treatment. Therefore, intercropping cumin at a density of 8×105 plants ha-1 is beneficial for increasing surface coverage, significantly increasing crop water consumption, increasing surface temperature, reducing soil electrical conductivity and carbon emissions, and improving the crop yield and economic benefits. This model can be used as an agroecologically friendly and sustainable planting model.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1533211/fullcotton/cumin intercroppingdensitysoil environmentcrop productivitynonfilm cotton |
| spellingShingle | Humei Zhang Humei Zhang Liwen Tian Xianzhe Hao Nannan Li Xiaojuan Shi Feng Shi Yu Tian Wenbo Wang Honghai Luo Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems Frontiers in Plant Science cotton/cumin intercropping density soil environment crop productivity nonfilm cotton |
| title | Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems |
| title_full | Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems |
| title_short | Optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton/cumin intercropping systems |
| title_sort | optimizing plant density to improve the soil microenvironment and enhance crop productivity in cotton cumin intercropping systems |
| topic | cotton/cumin intercropping density soil environment crop productivity nonfilm cotton |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1533211/full |
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