Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 114-125 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 120 7.3 Biodiversity implications of intensive cotton cultivation If only one cotton variety is planted on a large area, especially oil-bearing cotton, it may damage biodiversity. If the variety is too single, farmland will become more susceptible to pests and diseases. In addition, in the past, cotton fields used a lot of pesticides to prevent insects, which also harmed many beneficial insects. However, there are some new practices to improve this problem, such as planting Bt cotton (cotton with insect-resistant genes), which can reduce the use of pesticides and cause less damage to the ecology. Planting "refuges", setting up insect corridors, and integrated pest management (IPM) can also help maintain ecological balance. In this way, the yield of oil cotton can be guaranteed while retaining useful insects (Altieri, 1999; Lu et al., 2012). 7.4 Carbon footprint and lifecycle assessments From planting to harvest, the carbon emissions of oil cotton are both good and bad. If it is planted in a more extensive way, with a lot of fertilizers and pesticides, and frequent tillage, greenhouse gas emissions will be quite high. But if no-tillage, organic fertilizers and clean energy are used for irrigation, carbon emissions can be reduced, up to 30% less carbon dioxide than traditional methods. Cotton seeds can produce both oil and fiber, and these two products can "share" carbon costs and use resources more efficiently. What's more interesting is that some cottonseed oil ingredients can also replace palm oil or soybean oil. This can reduce the deforestation of tropical rainforests and indirectly help reduce the pressure of global warming. 8 Case Study: Region or Farm Name 8.1 Geographical and climatic background The northern part of Cameroon belongs to the tropical semi-arid region, where there is not much rain and the weather is relatively hot. This climatic condition is very suitable for growing crops that require little water, such as cotton (Malalha et al., 2023). There are many types of soils in this area, and some plots have good drainage, and cotton roots can grow better in this type of soil. 8.2 Selected cotton variety and rationale Two varieties of Gossypium hirsutum were used in this case: Irma Q302 and Irma A2249. These two varieties have shown relatively high and stable seed cotton oil content of 26.61% and 26.40% in trials in several places and several seasons. They are very suitable for local cultivation in Cameroon and can also meet the needs of cottonseed oil production (Malalha et al., 2023). 8.3 Cultivation timeline and method The study adopted a completely randomized block design. Cotton was sown in spring, and the entire growing period coincided with the local main rainy season. Field management mainly involves moderate irrigation and pest and disease control, which ensures that cotton gets enough water and nutrients during the critical growth stage (Malalha et al., 2023). 8.4 Observed outcomes 8.4.1 Agronomic performance (growth rate, disease incidence). Different varieties grow differently in different plots. Irma Q302 grows well in places with good conditions and has fewer diseases, indicating that it is more adapted to the local environment (Malalha et al., 2023). 8.4.2 Oil yield and quality The oil content of cotton seeds varies greatly in different locations, generally ranging from 20.34% to 26.08%. Irma Q302 and Irma A2249 have high overall oil content. The oil extracted is also of good quality and can be eaten or used as industrial oil (Tak et al., 2020; Malalha et al., 2023). 8.4.3 Farmer economics and community impact After planting these high-oil cotton varieties, farmers’ incomes increased. Selling cottonseed oil became an additional source of income, which was a good benefit for farmers and made the local community’s economy and food and oil supply more stable (Malalha et al., 2023; Khalid et al., 2022).
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