Wenqing Zuo: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Baojian Wu: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Yuxuan Wang: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Shouzhen Xu: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Jingshan Tian: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Xingli Jiu: Regimental Farm 149, Division Eight, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi, China.
Hengyi Dong: Regimental Farm 149, Division Eight, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi, China.
Wangfeng Zhang: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Objective: It is of great importance to explore agronomic management measures for water conservation and cotton yield in arid areas. Methods: A four-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate cotton yield and soil water consumption under four row spacing configurations (high/low density with 66+10 cm wide, narrow row spacing, RS and RS; high/low density with 76 cm equal row spacing, RSH and RSL) and two irrigation amounts (CI:conventional drip irrigation; LI:limited drip irrigation) during the growing seasons in Shihezi, Xinjiang. Results: A quadratic relationship was observed between the maximum LAI (LAI) and seed yield. Canopy apparent transpiration rate(CAT), daily water consumption intensity (DWCI) and crop evapotranspiration (ET) were positively and linearly correlated with LAI. The seed yields, lint yields, and ET under CI were 6.6-18.3%,7.1-20.8% and 22.9-32.6%higher than those observed under LI, respectively. The RS under CI had the highest seed and lint yields. RSL had an optimum LAI range, which ensured a higher canopy apparent photosynthesis and daily dry matter accumulation and reached the same yield level as RS; however, soil water consumption in RSL was reduced ET by 51-60 mm at a depth of 20-60 cm at a radius of 19-38 cm from the cotton row,and water use efficiency increased by 5.6-8.3%compared to RS under CI. Conclusion: A 5.0
