Title : Optimizing canopy management and planting density for sustainable cotton production under late-sown conditions
Abstract:
Cotton production in cotton–wheat cropping systems is increasingly constrained by delayed sowing caused by labor shortages, machinery limitations, and climate variability, often resulting in reduced yield and fiber quality. Developing sustainable, low-cost agronomic interventions to stabilize productivity under such conditions is therefore critical. A two-year field study (2022–2023) was conducted at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, using a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement. The experiment evaluated two planting densities (87,489 and 58,326 plants ha?¹) combined with six canopy management strategies, including pruning, manual topping, chemical topping (mepiquat chloride), and their integrations. Results demonstrated that canopy architecture manipulation significantly influenced crop growth, yield formation, and fiber quality. The integration of chemical topping with pruning increased sympodial branch development by up to 38% and maximized seed cotton yield at higher planting density, indicating improved assimilate partitioning and canopy efficiency. In contrast, manual topping combined with pruning produced superior fiber uniformity and strength, highlighting trade-offs between yield optimization and fiber quality enhancement. The findings emphasize that targeted canopy management, when aligned with appropriate planting density, can serve as a sustainable agronomic strategy to mitigate climate-driven planting delays. This approach supports resource-efficient cotton production while maintaining yield stability and fiber quality, contributing to resilient agro-ecosystems under changing environmental conditions.
