Effects of Different Varieties, Densities and Sowing Dates on Cotton of No-Mulching Drip-Irrigated Cultivation in Southern Xinjiang
[Objective] To reveal the effects of varieties, densities and sowing dates under no-mulching drip-irrigated cultivation on the growth of cotton to provide data support and theoretical basis for no-mulc-hing rip-irrigated cultivation techniques in Southern Xinjiang. The suitable varieties, densities and sowing dates were screened.[Method]The experiments were carried out in Korla, Alar and Tumushuke, respective-ly. The no-mulching drip-irrigated cultivation methods and the split-split plot design were performed to investigate the effects of variety, density, sowing date on growth duration, yield components, agronomic traits, dry matter accumulation and fiber quality of cotton.[Result]Test results proved that the variety and sowing date had great influence on the growth of cotton, and the yield of early-maturing variety of cotton with shorter growth period was higher. With the sowing date postponed, the growth period was prolonged and the seed cot-ton yield, boll number per plant, lint percentage, ratio of yield before frost decreased gradually, which led to certain effects on agronomic traits and fiber quality. With the increasing of density, the boll number per plant, plant height, the number of fruit branches, fruit node numbers decreased gradually, which had no significant effect on the yield and fiber quality of the seed cotton. [Conclusion]Zhong No. 619 variety has earlier matu-rity and high yield, which can be used as a suitable cultivar for no-mulching drip-irrigated cultivation in southern Xinjiang. The suitable sowing date is April 15 to 25. 225,000 plants/hm2 per hectare has the highest yield in the 3 planting densities, which is regarded as a suitable planting density.