Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield
Cotton root systems sustain photosynthesis by nutrient uptake and coordinate with above-ground growth to influence yield. This study explored the effects of fulvic acid (FA) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on the relationships between cotton photosynthetic capacity (CAP) and root carbohydrate metabol...
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2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| author | Huqiang Li Jiao Lin Qiang Hu Yu Xiao Xiaofeng Wang Zhiguo Zhou Wei Hu Nan Cao Sumei Wan |
| author_facet | Huqiang Li Jiao Lin Qiang Hu Yu Xiao Xiaofeng Wang Zhiguo Zhou Wei Hu Nan Cao Sumei Wan |
| author_sort | Huqiang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cotton root systems sustain photosynthesis by nutrient uptake and coordinate with above-ground growth to influence yield. This study explored the effects of fulvic acid (FA) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on the relationships between cotton photosynthetic capacity (CAP) and root carbohydrate metabolism. A field experiment was conducted including five treatments: no P fertilizer (CK), 105 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> (P1), 150 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> (P2), 105 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> + FA (FP1), and 150 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> + FA (FP2). Results found that FP2 showed the most significant advantage, ensuring a suitable leaf area index (LAI) and cotton fractional interception of photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and consequently maintaining a high CAP. Compared with FP2, FP1 resulted in an increase in the boll loading of the root system (BLR) by 8.1% and the boll capacity of the root system (BCR) by 9.3%. From the peak flowering stage to the peak boll setting stage, sucrose and starch contents in FP1 were 6.2–19.2% and 26.5–27.9% lower than those in FP2, respectively. Conversely, fructose and glucose contents in FP1 were 6.4–10.8% and 7.2–8.8% higher than in FP2. The cotton reproductive organ biomass was increased by 11.1% and 14.7% relative to FP2. Moreover, FP1 achieved the highest yield, with an increase of 8.5% and 11.0% compared with P2 and FP2, respectively. Taken together, our study suggests that application of FP1 (105 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> + FA) could be a proper P fertilization method in cotton production of saline-alkali and arid regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c816acd4313e4269baeacba9c0ab6387 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-c816acd4313e4269baeacba9c0ab63872025-08-20T03:30:28ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-05-01156132710.3390/agronomy15061327Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and YieldHuqiang Li0Jiao Lin1Qiang Hu2Yu Xiao3Xiaofeng Wang4Zhiguo Zhou5Wei Hu6Nan Cao7Sumei Wan8College of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Tarim University, Alar 843300, ChinaCotton root systems sustain photosynthesis by nutrient uptake and coordinate with above-ground growth to influence yield. This study explored the effects of fulvic acid (FA) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on the relationships between cotton photosynthetic capacity (CAP) and root carbohydrate metabolism. A field experiment was conducted including five treatments: no P fertilizer (CK), 105 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> (P1), 150 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> (P2), 105 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> + FA (FP1), and 150 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> + FA (FP2). Results found that FP2 showed the most significant advantage, ensuring a suitable leaf area index (LAI) and cotton fractional interception of photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and consequently maintaining a high CAP. Compared with FP2, FP1 resulted in an increase in the boll loading of the root system (BLR) by 8.1% and the boll capacity of the root system (BCR) by 9.3%. From the peak flowering stage to the peak boll setting stage, sucrose and starch contents in FP1 were 6.2–19.2% and 26.5–27.9% lower than those in FP2, respectively. Conversely, fructose and glucose contents in FP1 were 6.4–10.8% and 7.2–8.8% higher than in FP2. The cotton reproductive organ biomass was increased by 11.1% and 14.7% relative to FP2. Moreover, FP1 achieved the highest yield, with an increase of 8.5% and 11.0% compared with P2 and FP2, respectively. Taken together, our study suggests that application of FP1 (105 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> + FA) could be a proper P fertilization method in cotton production of saline-alkali and arid regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1327cottonbiomass allocationboll loading of the root systemboll capacity of the root systemroot carbohydrate metabolism |
| spellingShingle | Huqiang Li Jiao Lin Qiang Hu Yu Xiao Xiaofeng Wang Zhiguo Zhou Wei Hu Nan Cao Sumei Wan Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield Agronomy cotton biomass allocation boll loading of the root system boll capacity of the root system root carbohydrate metabolism |
| title | Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield |
| title_full | Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield |
| title_fullStr | Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield |
| title_short | Synergistic Effects of Fulvic Acid and Phosphorus Fertilizers on Cotton Photosynthetic Capacity, Root Productivity, and Yield |
| title_sort | synergistic effects of fulvic acid and phosphorus fertilizers on cotton photosynthetic capacity root productivity and yield |
| topic | cotton biomass allocation boll loading of the root system boll capacity of the root system root carbohydrate metabolism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1327 |
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