Analysis of Soil Moisture, Temperature, and Salinity in Cotton Field under Non-Mulched Drip Irrigation in South Xinjiang

Abstract

The mulch film residues in cotton fields in south Xinjiang have caused serious harm to the soil environment and ecological security in the oasis areas. Non-mulched planting provides an alternative approach to this problem. In this experiment, irrigation was provided on the basis of the reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0). Two layouts of drip tapes (1T4R—one tape for four rows; 2T4R—two tapes for four rows) were applied to the non-mulched, drip-irrigated cotton fields in south Xinjiang, and their impacts on soil water–heat–salt dynamic changes and the water consumption and yield of cotton were compared and analyzed. The experiment shows that the 2T4R layout provided an excellent soil water–salt environment for cotton growth and yield formation. Soil temperature decreased by 0.8 °C and drip irrigation belt input increased by CNY1200·hm−2. However, a higher profit derived from the 2T4R layout could compensate for the increased expenditure. The results show that cotton cultivation using non-mulched drip irrigation instead of mulched drip irrigation can potentially alleviate soil environmental and ecological security problems caused by plastic mulch residues in oasis areas. Although cotton yield was reduced by about 15%, water and nitrogen strategies and other field management could be adjusted to compensate for the disadvantages.

Effects of Different Drip Irrigation Rates on Root Distribution Characteristics and Yield of Cotton under Mulch-Free Cultivation in Southern Xinjiang

“…Since Yu et al [10] selected and bred the varieties of filmless cotton, filmless cotton has been planted in Southern Xinjiang. Because the soil moisture ecology of filmless cotton was significantly different from that of film-covered cotton (abbreviated as filmed cotton) [11], the effect of the irrigation amount on the root system was quite different. At present, there are many studies on the growth and development, root characteristics and yield formation of cotton with film mulching under the control of irrigation amount, but less on cotton without film mulching [8,12].…”

Aging characteristics of drip irrigation belt in Xinjiang cotton fields and their effects on its recovery and recycling

“…Xinjiang China, is a typical drought and water shortage area 1 , where water resources account for only about 3% of China's total, the agricultural water is seriously lacking, particularly.The sunshine duration in summer is long, so, the evaporation of surface water is large in Xinjiang 2 . The drip irrigation technology has many advantages, such as significant fertilizer saving, yield increasing, efficient water-saving and labor saving 3 .…”

Effects of Drip Tape Layout and Flow Rate on Water and Nitrogen Distributions within the Root Zone and Summer Maize Yield in Sandy Tidal Soil

“…Guo et al showed that drip lines for two rows of plants outperformed drip lines for one row of plants for achieving higher yields and irrigation water efficiency in greenhouse tomato plants [9]. Wang et al reported that soil moisture under two tapes for four rows was greater than that of one tape for four rows, forming a "broad and shallow" wet zone, which was beneficial for the growth of cotton [10]. Drip flow rate is also critical in drip fertigation practice.…”