Effects of Soil Water Content on Cotton Root Growth and Distribution Under Mulched Drip Irrigation

Abstract

The relation between soil water content and the growth of cotton root was studied for the scheme of field water and cotton yield under mulched drip irrigation. Based on the field experiments, three treatments of soil water content were conducted with 90%θ f, 75%θ f, and 60%θ f (θ f is field water capacity). Cotton roots and root-shoot ratio were studied with digging method, and the soil moisture was observed with TDR (time domain reflector), and cotton yield was measured. The results indicated that the growth of cotton root accorded with Logistic growth curve in the three treatments, the cotton root grew quickly and its weight was very high under 75%θ f because of the suitable soil water condition, while grew slowly and its weight was lower under 90%θ f due to water moisture beyond the suitable condition, and the root weight was in between under 60%θ f. For the three water treatments, the cotton root weight decreased with soil depth, and decreased more significantly in deeper soil layer with the soil moisture increasing. And the ratio of cotton root weight in 0-30 cm soil layer to the total root weight was the highest under 75%θ f. The cotton root system was distributed mainly in the soil of narrow row and wide row mulched with plastic film, and little in the soil outside plastic film. The weight of cotton root was the highest in the soil of narrow row or wide row mulched with plastic film under 75%θ f. Root-shoot ratio decreased with the soil moisture increasing. The soil water content affected cotton yields, and cotton yield was the highest under 75%θ f. The higher soil moisture level is unfavorable to the growth of cotton root system and yield of cotton under mulched drip irrigation.