ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract
Water scarcity and soil degradation represent critical constraints to sustainable agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions. This study investigates the optimisation of drip irrigation technology for cotton cultivation in light grey soils of the Fergana region, with a particular focus on soil physical properties and water-use efficiency. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate variations in soil bulk density, porosity, and moisture distribution under conventional and drip irrigation systems across multiple soil depths (0–100 cm). Irrigation parameters, including water application rates, emitter spacing, and wetting uniformity, were systematically analysed. The results indicate that drip irrigation significantly moderates increases in soil bulk density compared to furrow irrigation, thereby preserving soil structure and enhancing water infiltration. Bulk density increases under drip irrigation were limited to 0.02–0.03 g/cm³, compared to 0.04–0.05 g/cm³ under conventional methods. Furthermore, optimised irrigation regimes achieved substantial water savings while maintaining adequate moisture distribution for crop growth. The findings demonstrate that drip irrigation improves soil physical conditions and enhances resource-use efficiency, offering a viable strategy for sustainable cotton production under conditions of increasing water scarcity.
Keywords: Drip irrigation, cotton, soil bulk density, water-use efficiency, soil physics, sustainable agriculture