OPTIMIZING DEFICIT IRRIGATION AND SOIL MULCH ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.) PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMIC GAINS UNDER WATER-LIMITED DRY CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

Cotton is a major oil and fiber crop in many countries around the globe.The primary constraint in cotton cultivation is water scarcity.Thus, the adoption of economical and best management practices (BMP) are needed to improve productivity on a sustainable irrigation basis.We investigated the economic and agronomic benefits of sustainable irrigation [(control and partial rhizosphere drying (PRD)] and BMP (no-mulched, black plastic, wheat straw, and cotton stick) treatments, to find a combination of strategies towards a higher yield and economic return.Our findings revealed that PRD irrigation