Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado
Brazil leads globally in achieving high lint yields for rain-fed cotton in large-scale fields, with about 92% of its cotton area unirrigated. This study hypothesized that cotton could achieve high yields when favorable climate conditions and management practices favor high fruit load. The objective...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Fábio R. Echer Leonardo V. Galdi Gustavo R. A. Silva Jorge W. S. Santos Caroline H. Rocha Camila P. Cagna Cássio A. Tormena Igor F. Silva Ricardo Atarassi |
| author_facet | Fábio R. Echer Leonardo V. Galdi Gustavo R. A. Silva Jorge W. S. Santos Caroline H. Rocha Camila P. Cagna Cássio A. Tormena Igor F. Silva Ricardo Atarassi |
| author_sort | Fábio R. Echer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Brazil leads globally in achieving high lint yields for rain-fed cotton in large-scale fields, with about 92% of its cotton area unirrigated. This study hypothesized that cotton could achieve high yields when favorable climate conditions and management practices favor high fruit load. The objective was to analyze the impact of these factors on cotton yields by examining two commercial fields in Brazil in the same climatic zone (Aw, Koppen)—one in Sapezal (SPZ) and the other in Riachão das Neves (RN). The SPZ field (cv. TMG 47B2RF) spanned 20 hectares, while the RN field (cv. FM 974GLT) covered 90 hectares. The soils of both fields were classified as oxisols, with SPZ possessing a clayey texture and RN a sandy loam texture. The findings indicate that the high lint cotton yields—3111 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup> in SPZ and 3239 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup> in RN—were achieved through a combination of ideal weather conditions, high-quality soil, and effective management practices, which favored boll retention, and an optimal plant architecture with short stature (<1.1 m), 19–22 nodes, and ~165 bolls m<sup>−2</sup>. Boll weights averaged 1.85–1.91 g of lint, and fruit retention rates were 61.6% in SPZ and 66.2% in RN. The study reveals a significant yield gap compared to Brazil’s average lint cotton yield (~1900 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup>) and other high-yield commercial fields (~3500–3900 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup> of lint). The results underscore that bridging this gap—ranging from 1200 to 2000 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup>—could enhance the sustainability of cotton farming in Brazil by maximizing existing cultivated areas. Ultimately, the insights from this study highlight the role of combining climate suitability, management practices, and soil quality improvement to achieve higher cotton productivity and reduce environmental pressures from agricultural expansion. |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e3d2db5be0d7401fb0d8b0fa8569fc252025-08-20T02:50:56ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-12-011412292010.3390/agronomy14122920Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian CerradoFábio R. Echer0Leonardo V. Galdi1Gustavo R. A. Silva2Jorge W. S. Santos3Caroline H. Rocha4Camila P. Cagna5Cássio A. Tormena6Igor F. Silva7Ricardo Atarassi8Department of Agronomy, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo Western University (UNOESTE), Raposo Tavares Hwy., Km 572, Presidente Prudente 19067-175, SP, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo Western University (UNOESTE), Raposo Tavares Hwy., Km 572, Presidente Prudente 19067-175, SP, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo Western University (UNOESTE), Raposo Tavares Hwy., Km 572, Presidente Prudente 19067-175, SP, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, Maringá State University (UEM), Maringá 87020-900, PR, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo Western University (UNOESTE), Raposo Tavares Hwy., Km 572, Presidente Prudente 19067-175, SP, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, Maringá State University (UEM), Maringá 87020-900, PR, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy, Maringá State University (UEM), Maringá 87020-900, PR, BrazilTrês Coqueiros Group, Sapezal 78365-000, MT, BrazilBelizario Farm, Riachão das Neves 47970-000, BA, BrazilBrazil leads globally in achieving high lint yields for rain-fed cotton in large-scale fields, with about 92% of its cotton area unirrigated. This study hypothesized that cotton could achieve high yields when favorable climate conditions and management practices favor high fruit load. The objective was to analyze the impact of these factors on cotton yields by examining two commercial fields in Brazil in the same climatic zone (Aw, Koppen)—one in Sapezal (SPZ) and the other in Riachão das Neves (RN). The SPZ field (cv. TMG 47B2RF) spanned 20 hectares, while the RN field (cv. FM 974GLT) covered 90 hectares. The soils of both fields were classified as oxisols, with SPZ possessing a clayey texture and RN a sandy loam texture. The findings indicate that the high lint cotton yields—3111 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup> in SPZ and 3239 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup> in RN—were achieved through a combination of ideal weather conditions, high-quality soil, and effective management practices, which favored boll retention, and an optimal plant architecture with short stature (<1.1 m), 19–22 nodes, and ~165 bolls m<sup>−2</sup>. Boll weights averaged 1.85–1.91 g of lint, and fruit retention rates were 61.6% in SPZ and 66.2% in RN. The study reveals a significant yield gap compared to Brazil’s average lint cotton yield (~1900 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup>) and other high-yield commercial fields (~3500–3900 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup> of lint). The results underscore that bridging this gap—ranging from 1200 to 2000 kg·ha⁻<sup>1</sup>—could enhance the sustainability of cotton farming in Brazil by maximizing existing cultivated areas. Ultimately, the insights from this study highlight the role of combining climate suitability, management practices, and soil quality improvement to achieve higher cotton productivity and reduce environmental pressures from agricultural expansion.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2920sustainableboll retentionsoil quality |
| spellingShingle | Fábio R. Echer Leonardo V. Galdi Gustavo R. A. Silva Jorge W. S. Santos Caroline H. Rocha Camila P. Cagna Cássio A. Tormena Igor F. Silva Ricardo Atarassi Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado Agronomy sustainable boll retention soil quality |
| title | Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado |
| title_full | Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado |
| title_fullStr | Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado |
| title_full_unstemmed | Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado |
| title_short | Components of High-Yielding Cotton Grown in Rain-Fed Conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado |
| title_sort | components of high yielding cotton grown in rain fed conditions in the brazilian cerrado |
| topic | sustainable boll retention soil quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2920 |
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