Work

Optimizing brackish water irrigation using magnetoelectric treatment for sustainable cotton cultivation in the arid region of southern Xinjiang

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Brackish water irrigation is of great significance for alleviating water resource shortages and improving saline-alkali land utilization in southern Xinjiang, an arid region. This study conducted a two-year (2020–2021) field experiment considering two water quality treatments—brackish water (BW) and magnetoelectric brackish water (MW)—under five irrigation gradients: 262.5, 337.5, 412.5, 487.5, 562.5 mm. The effects of irrigation amount on cotton growth characteristics, photosynthetic parameters, abiotic stress resistance, yield, quality, and water use efficiency were analyzed. The results showed that MW treatment exhibited 1.41 %–8.50 % higher SPAD values compared to BW during the boll stage. The MW treatment increased the light compensation point by 2.46 %–37.29 % and reduced the light saturation point by 0.43 %–14.63 % relative to BW. Compared with BW, malondialdehyde levels under MW treatment were 2.25 %–9.77 % lower, whereas peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels were 1.98 %–11.09 %, 1.03 %–9.47 %, and 2.18 %–16.89 % higher. These physiological changes enhanced cotton's dry matter accumulation, which was 3.43 %–21.58 % higher under MW treatment. Considering the water use efficiency, the recommended irrigation quota for MW is 346.58–508.75 mm, and the theoretical yield can reach 4.90–5.84 t·ha −1 , 2.29 %–12.69 % higher than BW. Under the yield-dominated condition, the recommended irrigation quota for MW is 512.31–556.07 mm. The theoretical yield can reach 5.55–5.97 t·ha −1 , which provides a sustainable approach and theoretical guidance for the safe utilization of BW.

Source: Agricultural Water Management