Work

Biochar Effects on Cotton Growth, Yield, and Fiber Quality Under Drought in the Arid U.S. Cotton Belt

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the world’s most important fiber crop for the textile industry. Drought stress can adversely affect cotton production and quality, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Biochar, produced from biomass through pyrolysis, has the potential to alleviate drought stress in cotton production through improving soil properties and enhancing plant nutrition. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of biochar produced from southern yellow pine (Pinus spp.) on cotton seedling emergence and growth, yield and its component traits, and fiber quality traits under field drought-stressed, arid conditions in the U.S. over two years. Six genotypes were evaluated in 2024, and three of these genotypes were evaluated following a single application of biochar at four rates (0, 6.25, 12.5, and 25.0 t ha−1) applied at the beginning of the study. Significant genotypic differences were observed in both years, as expected. No genotype × biochar interaction was detected, indicating that different cotton genotypes responded similarly to biochar application. Groundcherry (Physalis acutifolia) infestation was unexpectedly higher, and cotton seedling growth was reduced in the biochar-amended plots compared with the non-biochar control in 2024, but these effects were not observed in 2025. Plots amended with 12.5 and 25.0 t ha−1 biochar had significantly higher soil moisture than those receiving 0 or 6.25 t ha−1 biochar. Estimated seedcotton yield was the highest in plots receiving 12.5 t ha−1 biochar in both years and was significantly greater than that of the non-biochar control, with 18.3 and 8.4% increases in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Biochar had no significant effects on fiber length, uniformity, strength, elongation, and micronaire in either year, except that 6.25 and 12.5 t ha−1 biochar rates increased elongation and 25.0 t ha−1 biochar rate decreased micronaire. These results indicate a single biochar application had a positive, although diminishing, effect of biochar on cotton productivity during the first two years under drought stress, while having little to no effects on fiber quality.

Source: Agronomy

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy16151434