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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 8
10.3390/agronomy15081964
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Interactive Effects of Mulching Width and Irrigation Management on Cotton Growth and Dynamic Changes in Soil Factors in Arid Regions

by
Nanfang Li
1,2,
Guang Yang
2,
Yinping Song
1,2,
Wenzhi Wang
2,3,
Xianbo Zhang
2,
Hao Liu
2,4 and
Huifeng Ning
2,*
1
School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
2
Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453002, China
3
College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yang Ling 712100, China
4
Shangqiu Agro-Ecological System, National Observation and Research Station, Shangqiu 476000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081964
Submission received: 8 July 2025 / Revised: 9 August 2025 / Accepted: 13 August 2025 / Published: 14 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Management in Water-Limited Cropping Systems)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Mulching and irrigation are key practices for improving cotton yield and soil conditions, especially in Xinjiang, China. This study investigated the combined effects of mulching width and irrigation depth on cotton growth and rhizosphere microorganisms. Two mulching widths—conventional (M1) and ultra-wide (M2)—and three irrigation depths, 0.8 ETc (W1), 1.0 ETc (W2), and 1.2 ETc (W3), were tested. The impacts on cotton growth, soil environment, and rhizosphere microbial communities were analyzed. Results showed that under the same irrigation depth, M2 significantly increased soil moisture and reduced salt accumulation. Soil temperature under M2 was higher than M1, with increases of 0.55 °C and 1.65 °C during the budding and flowering–boll stages. M2 also increased root length (3.52–10.72%) and root surface area (5.8–7.51%). The beneficial fungus Cladosporium was enriched, while the pathogen Fusarium was suppressed under M2. With the same mulching width, increasing irrigation improved soil moisture, reduced electrical conductivity, and decreased soil temperature. Root diameter and volume increased by 7.67–47% and 9.43–10.36%, respectively. Mulching width and irrigation depth significantly affected bacterial α-diversity. M2W3 showed the highest microbial richness and functional diversity. This study offers guidance for efficient cotton cultivation in southern Xinjiang.
Keywords: ultra-wide film; water and salt; soil temperature; root growth; soil microbial community ultra-wide film; water and salt; soil temperature; root growth; soil microbial community

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MDPI and ACS Style

Li, N.; Yang, G.; Song, Y.; Wang, W.; Zhang, X.; Liu, H.; Ning, H. Interactive Effects of Mulching Width and Irrigation Management on Cotton Growth and Dynamic Changes in Soil Factors in Arid Regions. Agronomy 2025, 15, 1964. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081964

AMA Style

Li N, Yang G, Song Y, Wang W, Zhang X, Liu H, Ning H. Interactive Effects of Mulching Width and Irrigation Management on Cotton Growth and Dynamic Changes in Soil Factors in Arid Regions. Agronomy. 2025; 15(8):1964. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081964

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Nanfang, Guang Yang, Yinping Song, Wenzhi Wang, Xianbo Zhang, Hao Liu, and Huifeng Ning. 2025. "Interactive Effects of Mulching Width and Irrigation Management on Cotton Growth and Dynamic Changes in Soil Factors in Arid Regions" Agronomy 15, no. 8: 1964. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081964

APA Style

Li, N., Yang, G., Song, Y., Wang, W., Zhang, X., Liu, H., & Ning, H. (2025). Interactive Effects of Mulching Width and Irrigation Management on Cotton Growth and Dynamic Changes in Soil Factors in Arid Regions. Agronomy, 15(8), 1964. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081964

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