The efficacy of chemical topping in field-grown cotton is mediated by drip irrigation amount in irrigated agricultural area

Background:Cotton production in China is challenged by high labor input including manual topping(MT).Recently,to replace MT in the Xinjiang cotton region of China,mepiquat chloride(MC)was applied once more than the traditional multiple-application;this was designated as chemical topping(CT),but it is unclear whether the amount of irrigation needs to be adjusted to accommodate CT.Results:The main plots were assigned to three drip irrigation amounts[300(I_(1))480(I_(2)), and 660(I_(3))mm],and the subplots were assigned to the CT treatments[450(MC)750(MC_(2)),and 1050(MC_(3))mL·hm^(-2)25%MC]with MT as a control that was performed after early bloom.The optimum drip irrigation amount for CT was explored based on leaf photosynthesis,chlorophyll fluorescence,biomass accumulation,and yield.There were significant influe nces of drip irrigation,topping treatme nts and their interaction on chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics,gas exchange parameters and biomass accumulation characteristics as well as yield.The combination of I_(2) and MC_(2)(I_(2)MC_(2))performed best.Compared with I_(2)MC_(2)the net photosynthetic rate(Pn),stomatai conductance(Gs),transpiration rate(Tr),and photochemical quenching coefficient(qP)of I_(2)MC_(2)significantly increased by 4.0%~7.2%,6.8%〜17.1%,5.2%~17.6%,and 4.8%~9.6%,respectively,from the peak flowering to boll opening stages.Moreover,I_(2)MC_(2) showed fast reproductive organ biomass accumulation and the highest seed cotton yield;the latter was 6.6%~12.8%higher than that of I_(2)MT.Further analysis revealed that a 25%MC emulsion in water(MCEW)application resulted in yield improvement by increasing Pn,φPSⅡ,and qP to promote biomass accumulation and transport to reproductive organs.Conclusion:The results showed that the 480 mm drip irrigation combined with 750 mL·hm^(-2)MC increased the rate of dry matter accumulation in reproductive organs by increasing Pn,φPSⅡ and qP to improve photosynthetic performance,thus achieving higher yield.

Flumetralin and dimethyl piperidinium chloride alter light distribution in cotton canopies by optimizing the spatial configuration of leaves and bolls

Plant growth regulators(PGRs)are frequently used to adjust cotton growth and development.The objectives of this study were to determine how PGRs affect plant morphology,light distribution and the spatial distribution of leaves and bolls within the cotton canopy.The field experiments were carried out at Shihezi(Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,China)in 2014 and 2015.The experiment included two PGR treatments:(i)flumetralin(active ingredient(a.i),N-N-ethy)-2,6-dinitro-4-aniline and(i)mepiquat chloride(ai,1-dimethyl-piperidiniuchloride)plus flumetralin.No PGR(manual topping)was applied in the control treatment.The chemically-topped plants were taller and had more main stem internodes than the manually-topped plants.Furthermore,the PGRs significantly reduced the length of fruiting branches in the upper canopy,resulting in a more compact canopy.The maximum leaf area index was signifcantly greater in the chemically-topped treatments than that in the control.In particular,the PGRs increased leaf area index by 25%in the upper canopy.The leaf area duration was also longer in the chemically-topped treatments than in the control.Compared with the control,the chemically-topped treatments increased canopy diffuse non-interceptance by 35.75%in the upper canopy layer,while reducing the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation by 14.45%in the upper canopy layer.Light transmittance in the upper and middle canopy layers was greater in the chemically-topped treatments than in the control,which increased boll numbers in both the upper canopy and the middle canopy.However,the chemically-topped treatments resulted in less light-leakage through the lower canopy layer during the late growth stages,which had a tendency to increase boll numbers in the whole canopy.In summary,the PGRs optimized canopy shape,light distribution and the spatial distribution of bolls and leaves.