Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 27-36 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 31 4.3 Specific impacts of climate change Climate change has affected cotton planting and may also bring some new situations. For example, the research in Xinjiang shows that the temperature rise makes the germination and flowering of cotton become earlier, and the overall growth cycle becomes longer. Although temperature rise in some stages (such as initial germination) is not conducive to cotton, high temperature in some stages (such as flowering to boll maturity) is conducive to yield increase (Huang and Ji, 2015). Future atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may continue to rise, creating a dual impact on cotton cultivation. A global analysis reveals that each 1 ℃ temperature increase reduces cotton yields by approximately 1.64%, while a 1 ppm rise in CO2 concentration could boost production by 0.05% (Li et al., 2021). Although rising temperatures pose challenges for cotton, with proper management practices, appropriate crop varieties, and strategic adaptation to rising CO2 concentrations, stable cotton production remains achievable. 5 Technology and Practice Innovation 5.1 Precision agriculture In arid areas, precision agriculture technology has played a great role in cotton planting. Farmers can now use sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence tools to master soil moisture, vegetation and evaporation in real time, so as to arrange irrigation and fertilization more reasonably. For example, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) obtained by the time domain reflectance (TDR) sensor and sentinel 2 satellite can accurately monitor water and crop growth, which helps to improve the water and fertilizer use efficiency of cotton (Figure 2) (Filintas et al., 2022). Drones equipped with multispectral cameras can capture high-resolution field images. By analyzing the data through AI, they identify problematic areas to determine where irrigation or pest control is needed. Machine learning models can also predict crop yields and disease outbreaks based on soil conditions and weather patterns, helping farmers prepare in advance and reduce unnecessary investments (Prasad et al., 2019; Sharma et al., 2021). 5.2 Soil and moisture monitoring technology To plant cotton in arid areas, we must have a good grasp of soil and moisture. Current technologies include soil moisture sensors, temperature meters and nutrient analysis equipment. The water sensor can feed back the amount of water in the soil in real time, so that the watering time can be accurately arranged to avoid excessive or insufficient water. The combination of this sensor and decision-making system can increase cotton yield and improve water utilization (Chen et al., 2020). Temperature sensors are also very useful. They can ensure that the water temperature and soil temperature are in the range suitable for cotton growth. Studies have pointed out that if irrigated at night and controlled water temperature, photosynthesis and nitrogen absorption can be improved, thereby increasing yield (Wu et al., 2023). Understanding what elements are missing in the soil through the nutrient analyzer, and then carrying out targeted fertilization can not only improve fertilizer efficiency, but also reduce environmental pollution (Neuphane et al., 2021; Filintas et al., 2022). 5.3 Pest management Integrated Pest Management (IPM) serves as a crucial approach to reduce pesticide use. This method combines multiple strategies including beneficial insect release, crop rotation, mechanical control, and precision application. Modern precision agriculture tools like drones have been integrated, enabling aerial pest monitoring and targeted spraying where needed—eliminating the need for full-field coverage, thereby reducing chemical usage (Prasad et al., 2019). Artificial intelligence systems can predict future risks by analyzing historical pest data and weather patterns, enabling farmers to take preemptive measures and minimize losses. Furthermore, integrating beneficial insects with cultivation techniques like crop rotation and intercropping can effectively reduce pest and disease issues. These methods not only protect crops but also decrease reliance on chemical pesticides, ultimately contributing to
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==