[Effects of partial root-zone irrigation and rational close planting on yield and water productivity of cotton in arid area.].

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and underlying physiological mecha-nisms of partial root zone irrigation (PRI) and rational close planting, as well as their interaction on yield and water productivity (WP) of cotton and to explore new alternatives of water-saving irrigation in dry land areas. A factorial field experiment with irrigation mode (normal irrigation, partial root-zone irrigation and deficient irrigation) and plant population density (135000, 180000 and 225000 plants·hm) was conducted in the west of Inner Mongolia to examine their effects on cotton growth, yield, water productivity and related physiological characters. The results showed that the irrigation mode and plant density as well as their interaction significantly affected the biomass, yield, yield components and harvest index.

[Effects of fertilization on cotton growth and nitrogen use efficiency under salinity stress].

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was raised at different salinity levels (0, 0.15% and 0.30%) by irrigating with fresh- or sea-water.

[Underlying mechanisms and related techniques of stand establishment of cotton on coastal saline-alkali soil].

Stand establishment is the most difficult step for cotton planting on coastal saline-alkali soil. To establish and improve the techniques for stand establishment is the key in the production of high-yielding cotton on saline-alkali soil. Based on the previous studies and our own research progress in this field, this paper reviewed the effects and the underlying mechanisms of making unequal salt distribution in root zone, increasing soil moisture and temperature, establishing under-mulching greenhouse, and introducing seed coating agent in promoting stand establishment of cotton on saline-alkali soil.

[Regulation effects of various training modes on source-sink relation of cotton].

With the removal of vegetative branches plus the maintenance of early fruiting branches as the control, the effects of various training modes on the source-sink relation of field-grown cotton were examined in 2005 and 2006. The results showed that compared with the control, either the removal of vegetative branches plus the removal of early fruiting branches (I), the maintenance of vegetative branches plus the removal of early fruiting branches (II), or the maintenance of vegetative branches plus the maintenance of early fruiting branches (III) could increase the leaf area per plant significantly, with the average maximum LAI across the two years increased by 10.3%, 28.