Cotton Lint Yield Research Articles

To alleviate the salinity and drought stresses faced in agricultural production, and to improve crop water use efficiency (WUE) in drought-prone regions, novel management strategies are needed. The combination of biochar amendment and reduced irrigation regimes could mitigate the negative effects of salinity and drought stresses and improve WUE of cotton plants. A split-root pot trial was performed in order to investigate the effects of two biochar amendments [wheat straw pellets biochar (WSP) and soft wood pellets biochar (SWP)] combined with three irrigation schemes [full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI), and partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD)] on the growth, physiology and WUE of cotton plants under two salinity levels [0 mM NaCl (S0) and 200 mM NaCl (S1)]. The results showed that salt stress depressed plant growth and physiology, and reduced seed cotton yield and lint yield by 19.33–47.22% and 40.43–58.81%, respectively. However, the biochar amendment alleviated salt stress and increased plant dry biomass allocation ratio by 3.85%–12.54%, 5.07%–14.39% and 9.78%–46.62% in boll, seed cotton and lint cotton under S1, respectively, and also increased lint ginning out turn (GOT), harvest index (HI), WUE at plant and yield level (WUEp and WUEy) by 0.21%–28.69%, 5.07%–14.39%, −0.30%–15.71% and 5.83%–32.44%, respectively. Moreover, WSP was superior to SWP in terms of improving plant growth and yield. PRD showed better growth and physiological effects than DI, especially WUEp and WUEy were 6.88%–13.73% and 9.16%–22.78% greater under PRD than under DI. The combined application of biochar and PRD counteracted the decrease in WUE caused by biochar application alone under S0. Collectively, WSP combined with PRD could be a promising strategy in sustainable cotton production under drought and salinity stress.

BackgroundUpland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most economically important species in the cotton genus (Gossypium spp.). Enhancing the cotton yield is a major goal in cotton breeding programs. Lint percentage (LP) and boll weight (BW) are the two most important components of cotton lint yield. The identification of stable and effective quantitative trait loci (QTLs) will aid the molecular breeding of cotton cultivars with high yield.ResultsGenotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 3VmrMLM were used to identify LP and BW related QTLs from two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from high lint yield and fiber quality lines (ZR014121, CCRI60 and EZ60). The average call rate of a single locus was 94.35%, and the average call rate of an individual was 92.10% in GBTS. A total of 100 QTLs were identified; 22 of them were overlapping with the reported QTLs, and 78 were novel QTLs. Of the 100 QTLs, 51 QTLs were for LP, and they explained 0.29–9.96% of the phenotypic variation; 49 QTLs were for BW, and they explained 0.41–6.31% of the phenotypic variation. One QTL (qBW-E-A10-1, qBW-C-A10-1) was identified in both populations. Six key QTLs were identified in multiple-environments; three were for LP, and three were for BW. A total of 108 candidate genes were identified in the regions of the six key QTLs. Several candidate genes were positively related to the developments of LP and BW, such as genes involved in gene transcription, protein synthesis, calcium signaling, carbon metabolism, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Seven major candidate genes were predicted to form a co-expression network. Six significantly highly expressed candidate genes of the six QTLs after anthesis were the key genes regulating LP and BW and affecting cotton yield formation.ConclusionsA total of 100 stable QTLs for LP and BW in upland cotton were identified in this study; these QTLs could be used in cotton molecular breeding programs. Putative candidate genes of the six key QTLs were identified; this result provided clues for future studies on the mechanisms of LP and BW developments.

Many farmers' incomes in developing countries depend on the cultivation of major crops grown in arid and semi-arid regions. The agricultural productivity of arid and semi-arid areas primarily relies on chemical fertilizers. The effectiveness of chemical fertilizers needs to improve by integration with other sources of nutrients. Plant growth-promoting bacteria can solubilize nutrients, increase plant nutrient uptake, and supplement chemical fertilizers. A pot experiment evaluated the promising plant growth-promoting bacterial strain's effectiveness in promoting cotton growth, antioxidant enzymes, yield, and nutrient uptake. Two phosphate solubilizing bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis IA6 and Paenibacillus polymyxa IA7) and two zinc solubilizing bacterial strains (Bacillus sp. IA7 and Bacillus aryabhattai IA20) were coated on cotton seeds in a single as well as co-inoculation treatments. These treatments were compared with uninoculated controls in the presence and absence of recommended chemical fertilizer doses. The results showed the co-inoculation combination of Paenibacillus polymyxa IA7 and Bacillus aryabhattai IA20 significantly increased the number of bolls, seed cotton yield, lint yield, and antioxidants activities, including superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase. Co-inoculation combination of Bacillus subtilis IA6 and Bacillus sp. IA16 promoted growth attributes, including shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, and root fresh weight. This co-inoculation combination also increased soil nutrient content. At the same time, Paenibacillus polymyxa IA7 + Bacillus aryabhattai IA20 increased nutrient uptake by plant shoots and roots compared.

Abstract There has been limited introduction of new cover crop species into cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production within the last 30 years. Mounting evidence shows that traditional cover cropping species may be detrimental to cotton production, either by depleting soil fertility with crop removal, immobilizing minerals from high carbon residue, or excessive quantity of residue remaining at planting. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of growing a novel cover crop species, carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun), as a winter annual cover crop for cotton rotation in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Over a 2‐year period, carinata, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and fallow covers were maintained over winter months, then rotated into cotton. Each year, seedcotton and lint yields were collected, along with subsamples for ginning and subsequent fiber quality analyses. Additionally, end‐of‐season plant mapping was conducted on plants from 1 m of row per plot to determine cover crop effects on boll formation, retention, and distribution, as well as canopy architecture. Results indicated that seedcotton and lint yield of cotton following carinata was greater than cotton following winter wheat, and lint yields of cotton following wheat were lower than cotton after fallow. Fiber quality was largely unaffected by preceding cover crop. End‐of‐season plant mapping indicated that cotton grown after carinata had more position 2 bolls, which correlated to greater lint yields. These results indicate that carinata can potentially serve as a new, more effective cover crop than winter wheat for cotton rotations in Coastal Plain soils.

Abstract Lint yields and their underlying yield components can be substantially influenced by genotype and environment. Thus, the objectives of the current study were to quantify genotypic and environmental contributions to lint yield, yield components, and fiber quality in multi‐site variety trials conducted in Arkansas over a 19‐year period, to identify the traits most strongly associated with lint yield, and to quantify long‐term trends in the aforementioned traits. Annual assessments included lint yield, seeds per hectare (SPH), intra‐boll yield components, and fiber quality parameters. Production environment accounted for a higher percentage of all yield variability in 15 out of 19 years. However, four years were identified in which genotypic contributions were greater than environmental contributions. Genotype was a dominant driver of variability in lint percent, lint index, seed score, seed index, fibers per seed, fiber density, fiber length, strength, and uniformity. Production environment was the dominant driver of variability in SPH, and micronaire. Correlations between yield components and yield varied substantially from year to year, even when genotype was the primary yield driver. A regression function that utilized lint index and SPH was a stronger and more consistent indicator of genotypic variation in lint yield than any single yield component. Finally, long‐term trends show that lint percent has increased significantly over the past 19 years, whereas seed index has declined 19.6% for cotton varieties with the highest lint yields.

Abstract Subsurface band application of broiler litter in soil is being evaluated across the United States as a potential management practice for curbing phosphorus loss and improving nutrient retention. This management practice also shows promise for increasing yields of row crop systems. Determining the optimum plant distance from the subsurface banded broiler litter (BL) could be useful to optimize crop yields. Thus, a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) experiment was established to investigate the distance of a subsurface BL band from the planted row on cotton growth and yield. Treatments consisted of subsurface banding BL at 0, 10, 20, 30 cm from the crop row plus a non‐fertilized check, broadcast BL, and banding of urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN) at 20 cm to the side of rows as controls. Subsurface band placement of BL and UAN occurred just prior to sowing at a depth of 10 cm. Placing BL in subsurface bands tended to increase cotton yield compared to surface broadcasting the litter. When comparing BL band positions, cotton lint yield was generally greatest when BL was placed in subsurface bands 20 cm or less from the planted row. Minimal differences in cotton fiber quality were observed among treatments. Results suggest the reduced distance between the cotton row and a subsurface BL band can increase cotton growth and yield.

It is crucial to understand how targeted traits in a hybrid breeding program are influenced by gene activity and combining ability. During the three growing seasons of 2015, 2016, and 2017, a field study was conducted with twelve cotton genotypes, comprised of four testers and eight lines. Thirty-two F1 crosses were produced in the 2015 breeding season using the line x tester mating design. The twelve genotypes and their thirty-two F1 crosses were then evaluated in 2016 and 2017. The results demonstrated highly significant differences among cotton genotypes for all the studied traits, showing a wide range of genetic diversity in the parent genotypes. Additionally, the line-x-tester interaction was highly significant for all traits, suggesting the impact of both additive and non-additive variations in gene expression. Furthermore, the thirty-two cotton crosses showed high seed cotton output, lint cotton yield, and fiber quality, such as fiber length values exceeding 31 mm and a fiber strength above 10 g/tex. Accordingly, selecting lines and testers with high GCA effects and crosses with high SCA effects would be an effective approach to improve the desired traits in cotton and develop new varieties with excellent yield and fiber quality.

An experiment was executed during Kharif 2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur in randomized block design (RBD) in two replications for estimation of combining ability of the parents and gene effects and also the extent of heterosis using line × tester fashion design. Statistical data were collected on the biometrical observations viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), number of monopodia/ plant, number of sympodia/plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight (g), seed index (g), lint index (g), Ginning Out Turn (GOT %), seed cotton yield (kg/ha) and lint yield (kg/ha). The lines GISV298 and SCS1207; the testers, Lam GPC 501 and Lam GPC 355 exhibited positive General Combining Ability (GCA) effects for the traits Ginning Out Turn (GOT%), Seed Cotton Yield (SCY) and Lint Yield (LY) signifying that these were good general combiners. The cross combinations viz., TCH1837/GP117, GISV298/GP274, and SCS1207 / GP117 expressed significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects for Seed Cotton Yield (SCY) and Lint Yield (LY). The cross combination, SCS1207/ Lam GPC 355 was identified as the best hybrid combination with high GCA and SCA for important traits like GOT, seed cotton yield, and lint yield coupled with significant positive heterosis which can be further tested in multi-location testing at the station and all India level.

Context Production of rainfed (dryland) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) occurs in many places globally, and is always burdened with greater uncertainties in outcomes than irrigated cotton. Assessing farm financial viability helps farmers to make clearer and more informed decisions with a fuller awareness of the potential risks to their business. Aim We aimed to highlight key points of uncertainty common in rainfed cotton production and quantify these variable conditions to facilitate clearer decision-making on sowing dates and row configurations. Methods The consequences of these decisions at six locations across two states in Australia, given estimates of plant-available water at sowing, are expressed in terms of comparable probability distributions of cotton lint yield (derived from crop modelling using historical weather data) and gross margin per hectare (derived from historical prices for inputs and cotton lint yield), using the copula approach. Examples of contrasting conditions and likely outcomes are summarised. Key results Sowing at the end of October with solid row configuration tended to provide the highest yield; however, single- and double-skip row configurations generally resulted in higher gross margins. Places associated with higher summer-dominant rainfall had greater chance of positive gross margins. Conclusion In order to maximise the probability of growing a profitable crop, farmers need to consider the variabilities and dependencies within and across price and yield before selecting the most appropriate agronomic decisions. Implications Given appropriate data on growing conditions and responses, our methodology can be applied in other locations around the world, and to other crops.

When comparing soil potassium (K) levels common in West Texas to the current Mehlich III-K critical levels for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), fertilizer K applications are seldom recommended. However, when soil K is applied, positive responses in cotton yield have been reported. Studies were conducted in Lamesa and New Deal, TX to: 1) determine K effects on leaf K concentrations; 2) evaluate whether K application increases crop growth, yield, and fiber quality in sufficient K soils; and 3) evaluate whether K application under water deficit conditions also increases growth, yield, and fiber quality. In Lamesa, muriate of potash (KCl) was applied using two methods, knife-injected (0-0-15) and broadcast (0-0-60); and at New Deal, KCl was applied using knife injection. Potassium application rates included 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha-1 with both high (90% ET) and low (30% ET) irrigation levels. At Lamesa in 2016 at 90% ET irrigation, lint yield was greater when 90 kg K ha-1 was broadcast (2,153 kg ha-1 lint) compared to the 180 kg K ha-1 treatment, and all K treatments with 30% ET irrigation. There were no lint yield differences in 2017 at Lamesa. At New Deal, lint yield was similar amongst all K application rates in both years. Although K application increased yield with the 90% ET irrigation level with broadcast application, no differences were observed in water-deficit cotton suggesting further research is needed to better understand the dynamics of K on lint yield in semiarid cotton production systems.

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses in plants. This investigation aimed to study the effect of drought stress on twenty four cotton genotypes belonging to Gossypium barbadense L., in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Sakha Experimental Station, Agricultural Research Center, Kafr El-Sheikh government, Egypt, during five growing seasons from 2016 to 2020 for the two treatments normal and drought. The normal irrigation treatment was done every fifteen days as recommended to receive eight irrigations during the growing season, while drought stress treatment received only four irrigations during the plant growth cycle. The studied traits were boll weight, seed cotton yield / plant, lint yield / plant and lint %. The four studied yield traits showed highly significant differences for genotypes, environments and G x E. These results indicated that the studied genotypes were differed in their responses under both treatments. Overall, the variation was mainly attributed to environments (20.921, 24.462, 26.975 and 32.549%) followed by the genotypes (14.669, 8.509, 7.499 and 5.016%) and GEI (11.934, 15.216, 13.786 and 9.004%) for boll weight, seed cotton yield, lint yield and lint %, respectively. Phenotypic stability of the twenty four cotton genotypes was tested using GGE-biplot method across ten environments. Based on GEI and GG-biplot analysis, genotypes G5, G19 and G20 located in the mega-environments (E1, E3 and E5) were identified as the ideal genotypes with more stability and higher lint cotton yield production.

Chemical topping with 1,1-dimethylpiperidinium chloride increases lint yield and defoliation of cotton by improving canopy development

Enhancing boll protein synthesis and carbohydrate conversion by the application of exogenous amino acids at the peak flowering stage increased the boll Bt toxin concentration and lint yield in cotton

Dressed for success. Are crop N uptake, N loss and lint yield of irrigated cotton affected by how in-crop N fertiliser is applied?

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a major rotational crop associated with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cropping systems in Southwest Georgia. Since peanut is typically planted in twin-rows for greater yield and grade, use of the same twin-row planter for cotton would be cost effective. It is not clear what effect row pattern would have on cotton lint yield using drip irrigation. The objectives were to compare cotton yield when planted in different row patterns, with two plant densities, at multiple locations, and irrigated with drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Cotton was planted in single- and twin-row patterns at recommended (1X) and half-recommended (0.5X) seeding rates (93,000 and 54,600 seeds/ha, respectively). Irrigation systems were subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI), shallow subsurface drip irrigation (S3DI), and overhead sprinkler. Row pattern (single- or twin-row), seeding rate, or irrigation system had no effect on lint yield. There were fiber quality differences, probably due to cultivar, but there was no consistency to draw any conclusions. For consistent year-to-year yield and economics, it is recommended to plant cotton near 1X seeding rates using single- or twin-rows with either drip or sprinkler irrigation systems. Seeding rates reduced to half or lower than the recommended rate may increase risk of lower yields and revenue that may not be covered by money saved using less seed.

Abstract The southern United States produces 90% of the nation’s cotton, and the Texas High Plains is the largest contiguous cotton producing region. Since 2011, glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has complicated cotton production, and alternatives to glyphosate are needed. Integrating soil residual herbicides into a weed management program is a crucial step to control glyphosate resistant weeds before emergence. The recent development of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-resistant cotton by BASF Corporation may allow growers to use isoxaflutole in future weed management programs. In 2019 and 2020, field experiments were conducted in New Deal, Lubbock, and Halfway, Texas, to evaluate HPPD-resistant cotton response to isoxaflutole applied preemergence (PRE) or early postemergence (EPOST) and to determine the efficacy of isoxaflutole when used as part of a season-long weed management program. At the New Deal location, cotton response was observed following the EPOST application, but it never exceeded 10%. Cotton response was greatest following the PRE application in Lubbock in 2019 but did not exceed 14%. In 2020 in Lubbock, cotton was replanted due to severe weather. There was <1% cotton response following the PRE application, and maximum cotton response observed was 9% following EPOST and mid-postemergence (MPOST) applications. Cotton lint yields were not different from those of the nontreated, weed-free control at either location. In non-crop weed control studies in Halfway, all treatments controlled Palmer amaranth ≥94% 21 d after the EPOST application. Twenty-one days after the MPOST treatment, systems with isoxaflutole applied EPOST controlled Palmer amaranth by 88% to 93%, while systems with isoxaflutole PRE controlled Palmer amaranth by 94% to 98%. End-of-season Palmer amaranth control was lowest in the system without isoxaflutole (88%) and when isoxaflutole was used EPOST (88% to 91%). These studies suggest that the use of isoxaflutole in cotton weed management systems may improve season-long control of several troublesome weeds with no adverse effects on cotton yield and quality.

Abstract Grazing cover crops can improve land‐use efficiency and diversification, making agricultural enterprises more resilient to market fluctuations. We investigated how grazing intensity affects cover crop forage responses and cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) lint yield. Cover crops were a rye (Secale cerealeL.)–oat (Avena sativaL.) mixture managed as follows: no grazing + 34 kg N ha–1(NG34), no grazing + 90 kg N ha–1(NG90), heavy grazing (HG), moderate grazing (MG), and light grazing (LG), compared with a no cover crop control. All grazed treatments received 90 kg N ha–1. Average postgrazing herbage mass (HM) for HG, MG, and LG was 520, 1,350, and 2,120 kg dry matter ha–1, respectively. Herbage accumulation (HA) rate was greater for LG than HG, with MG being intermediate. Forage crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations decreased as the season progressed and were usually greater for HG than MG and LG. Stubble residue before cover crop termination was greatest for NG34 and NG90 in 2018 and 2020, however, in 2019 NG90 had greater stubble residue before termination than NG34 (7540 vs. 6650 kg dry matter ha–1). Heavy grazing resulted in greater weed proportion (17 vs. 6.5%) and lesser soil cover (49 vs. 70%) than nongrazed cover crops. Cotton lint yield was low and unaffected by treatment, reaching a maximum of 520 kg ha–1in 2019. Although lint yield was not affected by cover crop fertilization or grazing during 3 yr, HG reduced soil cover and increased weed presence.

Cotton yield response to fertilizer phosphorus under a range of nitrogen management tactics

Simulating productivity of dryland cotton using APSIM, climate scenario analysis, and remote sensing

Optimal irrigation amount can increase cotton lint yield by improving canopy structure and microenvironment under non-film deep drip irrigation