Abstract
The changing climatic conditions are causing erratic rains and frequent episodes of moisture stress; these impose a great challenge to cotton productivity by negatively affecting plant physiological, biochemical and molecular processes. This situation requires an efficient management of water-nutrient to achieve optimal crop production. Wise use of water-nutrient in cotton production and improved water use-efficiency may help to produce more crop per drop. We hypothesized that the application of nitrogen into deep soil layers can improve water-nitrogen productivity by promoting root growth and functional attributes of cotton crop. To test this hypothesis, a two-year pot experiment under field conditions was conducted to explore the effects of two irrigation levels (i.e., pre-sowing irrigation (W80) and no pre-sowing irrigation (W0)) combined with different fertilization methods (i.e., surface application (F10) and deep application (F30)) on soil water content, soil available nitrogen, roots morpho-physiological attributes, dry mass and water-nitrogen productivity of cotton. W80 treatment increased root length by 3.1%–17.5% in the 0–40 cm soil layer compared with W0. W80 had 11.3%–52.9% higher root nitrate reductase activity in the 10–30 cm soil layer and 18.8%–67.9% in the 60–80 cm soil layer compared with W0. The W80F10 resulted in 4.3%–44.1% greater root nitrate reductase activity compared with other treatments in the 0–30 cm soil layer at 54–84 days after emergence. Water-nitrogen productivity was positively associated with dry mass, water consumption, root length and root nitrate reductase activity. Our data highlighted that pre-sowing irrigation coupled with basal surface fertilization is a promising option in terms of improved cotton root growth. Functioning in the surface soil profile led to a higher reproductive organ biomass production and water-nitrogen productivity.
Highlights
Cotton is a commercial cash crop providing fiber, oil, and animal feed globally [1]
Cotton is considered a drought resistance crop, its productivity is negatively affected by drought stress and nutrient deficiency which results in reduced growth, physiological, biochemical and molecular events [2,3]
Water-nutrient application is an efficient strategy for improving plant performance under harsh environmental conditions i.e., drought stress, which ensures high cotton yield due to optimize root growth and activity in the soil [16,31]
Summary
Cotton is a commercial cash crop providing fiber, oil, and animal feed globally [1]. With the increasing population comes an increased demand for food and fiber, but the threats of climate change are challenging crop production. Crop intensification to produce more food, fiber and feed needs more water, but water resources are limited. Cotton is considered a drought resistance crop, its productivity is negatively affected by drought stress and nutrient deficiency which results in reduced growth, physiological, biochemical and molecular events [2,3]. 73% reduction in cotton yield [4]. Lower water availability has threatened the productivity of irrigated cotton ecosystem. Strategy to increase water conservation and nutrient uptake are needed to achieve optimal cotton yield [5,6]
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