Nitrogen use efficiency in cotton: Challenges and opportunities against environmental constraints

Abstract

Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for agricultural, and a defieciency of it causes stagnate cotton growth and yield penalty. Farmers rely heavily on N over-application to boost cotton output, which can result in decreased lint yield, quality, and N use efficiency (NUE). Therefore, improving NUE in cotton is most crucial for reducing environmental nitrate pollution and increasing farm profitability. Well-defined management practices, such as the type of sources, N-rate, application time, application method, crop growth stages, and genotypes, have a notable impact on NUE. Different N formulations, such as slow and controlled released fertilizers, have been shown to improve N uptake and, NUE. Increasing N rates are said to boost cotton yield, although high rates may potentially impair the yield depending on the soil and environmental conditions. This study comprehensively reviews various factors including agronomic and environmental constraints that influence N uptake, transport, accumulation, and ultimately NUE in cotton. Furthermore, we explore several agronomic and molecular approaches to enhance efficiency for better N uptake and utilization in cotton. Finally, this objective of this review to highlight a comprehensive view on enhancement of NUE in cotton and could be useful for understanding the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanism of N in cotton.

Effects of N application methods on cotton yield and fertilizer N recovery efficiency in salinity fields with drip irrigation under mulch film using 15N tracing technique

“…The results indicate that the increased N accumulation of UM treatment might be attributed to the increased N uptake from the low-salinity regions. N accumulation in different cotton organs has been affected by many management practices, such as N application rates and soil and environmental conditions (Shah et al, 2022). The transport of N to reproductive organs was inhibited, and the N accumulation ratio of reproductive to vegetative organs decreased with excessive N application rates (Ma et al, 2013;Luo et al, 2022).…”

Genetic improvement of Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) for high yield and fiber quality properties under semi arid conditions

“…However, selecting for high yield in cotton breeding is challenging due to its complexity and susceptibility to environmental and genetic factors. Direct selection based solely on yield is difficult and inefficient 5 – 7 , because of genotype x environment interactions, low heritability, polygenic nature, and non-additive gene action 8 . To address these challenges, the selection index technique was proposed to simultaneously improve multiple traits simultaneously, achieving superior results compared to direct selection.…”

Genome-wide identification and analyses of cotton high-affinity nitrate transporter 2 family genes and their responses to stress

“…Cotton is the most significant fiber and cash crop, and nitrogen deficiency can lead to dwarfing of cotton plants, loss of branches and bolls, yellowing of leaves, and severe premature aging and early maturation. Excessive non-protein nitrogen in the plant body results in overly luxuriant growth, large leaves, long petioles, light green leaves, continuous birth of axillary buds, more bud shedding, late maturation, susceptibility to diseases and insect attack, an increase in cotton rotten bolls, and poorer fiber quality ( Shah et al., 2022 ). Nitrogen has an effect on the growth and development of cotton in characteristics such as plant growth morphology, leaf morphology and physiological characteristics, and effects on dry matter accumulation and yields ( Iqbal et al., 2020 ).…”