Assessing the potential of partial root zone drying and mulching for improving the productivity of cotton under arid climate

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2021-12, Vol.28 (46), p.66223-66241
• Main Authors: Iqbal, Rashid, Habib-ur-Rahman, Muhammad, Raza, Muhammad Aown Sammar, Waqas, Muhammad, Ikram, Rao Muhammad, Ahmed, Muhammad Zeshan, Toleikiene, Monika, Ayaz, Muhammad, Mustafa, Farhan, Ahmad, Salman, Aslam, Muhammad Usman, Waqas, Muhammad Mohsin, Khan, Muhammad Tahir, Aslam, Muhammad Mahran, Haider, Imran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; Antioxidants; Aquatic Pollution; Arid climates; Arid environments; Arid regions; Arid zones; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Climate change; Cotton; Crop production; Desert Climate; Desiccation; Drying; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Enzymatic activity; Gossypium; Irrigation; Mulches; Mulching; Research Article; Root zone; Soil; Straw; Sustainable production; Triticum; Waste Water Technology; Water; Water conservation; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water scarcity; Water shortages; Water use; Water use efficiency; Wheat straw
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15259-6

Water scarcity constrains global cotton production. However, partial root-zone drying (PRD) and mulching can be used as good techniques to save water and enhance crop production, especially in arid regions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mulching for water conservation in an arid environment under PRD and to further assess the osmotic adjustment and enzymatic activities for sustainable cotton production. The study was carried out for 2 years in field conditions using mulches (NM = no mulch, BPM = black plastic mulch at 32 kg ha -1 , WSM = wheat straw mulch at 3 tons ha -1 , CSM = cotton sticks mulch at 10 tons ha -1 ) and two irrigation levels (FI = full irrigation and PRD (50% less water than FI). High seed cotton yield (SCY) achieved in FI+WSM (4457 and 4248 kg ha -1 in 2017 and 2018, respectively) and even in PRD+WSM followed by BPM>CSM>NM under FI and PRD for both years. The higher SCY and traits observed in FI+WSM and PRD+WSM compared with the others were attributed to the improved water use efficiency and gaseous exchange traits, increased hormone production (ABA), osmolyte accumulation, and enhanced antioxidants to scavenge the excess reactive oxygen. Furthermore, better cotton quality traits were also observed under WSM either with FI or PRD irrigation regimes. Mulches applications found effective to control the weeds in the order as BPM>WSM>CSM. In general, PRD can be used as an effective stratagem to save moisture along with WSM, which ultimately can improve cotton yield in the water-scarce regions under arid climatic regions. It may prove as a good adaptation strategy under current and future water shortage scenarios of climate change.