Effects of deficit irrigation on the yield and yield components of drip irrigated cotton in a mediterranean environment

A field study on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv.) was carried out from 2005 to 2008 in the Çukurova Region, Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey. Treatments were designated as I100 full irrigation; DI70, DI50 and DI00 which received 70, 50, and 0% of the irrigation water amount applied in the I100 treatment. The irrigation water amount to be applied to the plots was calculated using cumulative pan evaporation that occurred during the irrigation intervals. The effect of water deficit or water stress on crop yield and some plant growth parameters such as yield response, water use efficiencies, dry matter yield (DM), leaf area index (LAI) as well as on lint quality components was evaluated. The average seasonal evapotranspiration ranged from 287 ± 15 (DI00) to 584 ± 80 mm (I100). Deficit irrigation significantly affected crop yield and all yield components considered in this study. The average seed cotton yield varied from 1369 ± 197 (DI00) to 3397 ± 508 kg ha−1 (I100). The average water use efficiency (WUEET) ranged from 6.0 ± 1.6 (I100) to 4.8 ± 0.9 kg ha−1 mm−1 (DI00), while average irrigation water use efficiency (WUEI) was between 9.4 ± 3.0 (I100) and 14.4 ± 4.8 kg ha−1 mm−1 (DI50). Deficit irrigation increased the harvest index (HI) values from 0.26 ± 0.054 (I100) to 0.32 ± 0.052 kg kg−1 (DI50). Yield response factor (Ky) was determined to be 0.98 based on four-year average. Leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter yields (DM) increased with increasing water use. This study demonstrated that the full irrigated treatment (I100) should be used for semiarid conditions with no water shortage. However, DI70 treatment needs to be considered as a viable alternative for the development of reduced irrigation strategies in semiarid regions where irrigation water supplies are limited.

Research highlights▶ As a result of 4-year study that seed cotton yield was significantly affected by deficit irrigation. ▶ Evapotranspiration ranged from 477 to 671 mm in full irrigation and from 376 to 398 mm in the severe water stress treatment. ▶ The highest seed cotton yield (3397 kg ha−1) was obtained from the I100 treatment with an average of 382 mm irrigation water. ▶ It was concluded that full irrigation conditions could be used for cotton grown in semiarid regions under no water shortage. ▶ On the other hand, results obtained from the DI70 treatment (irrigation applied at 70% of full irrigation) could be used as a good alternative in semiarid regions where irrigation water supplies are limited. ▶ Under this condition, water savings of 22% were obtained with only 11% yield loss. ▶ It should be noted that 22% water savings can bring 22% more land under drip irrigation and eventually result in an overall yield increase.