Using SNPs for transplanting of cotton seedlings to increase plant growth and yield

Abstract

Straw nursery pots (SNPs), which utilize agricultural residues such as wheat<br />straw and corn stalks as raw materials, can be widely used in the transplanting<br />of seedlings of crops, vegetables, flowers and trees. Plastic nursery pots (PNPs)<br />and direct sowing (DS) were used as controls in evaluating the effects of SNPs<br />on plant growth, dry matter partitioning, yields and economic benefits of<br />transplanted cotton. SNPs significantly increased the rate of emergence,<br />shortened the convalescent period by about 7 d and increased the transplant<br />survival rate by 8.8% compared to PNPs. This led to significantly increased dry<br />matter accumulation: that of reproductive parts for SNP seedlings were 1.5- and<br />1.8-fold of that for PNPs and DS, respectively. The lint yield using SNPs was<br />11.5 and 17.5% greater than for PNPs and DS, respectively. Boll number per<br />plant with SNPs was 7.5 and 23.3% greater than for PNPs and DS, respectively;<br />lint weight was not significantly different than with PNPs and was 5.8% greater<br />than for DS. There were no significant differences in lint percentage among the<br />three systems. Further benefit analysis showed that net revenue per hectare<br />from using SNPs in cotton production was US$108 and US$279 greater than<br />for PNP and DS, respectively. This was mainly due to significantly increased<br />output, a reduced number of seedlings needed, nursery pot costs accounting for<br />a relatively small proportion of total investment, and the relatively low labor<br />costs in China.