Effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on the growth and yield of Gossypium hirsutum L. in Ecuador
Abstract
The cultivation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has a significant impact on the global economic and agricultural sectors, with its productivity being closely linked to nutrient management and the sustainability of the production system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on the growth and yield of G. hirsutum in Ecuador. A completely randomized block design was used with a 2×4×2 factorial arrangement, which included two nitrogen sources (organic matter and urea), four nitrogen fertilization rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg N.ha-1), and the presence or absence of efficient microorganisms (EM). Phenological, morphometric, and yield-related variables were measured, along with foliar concentrations of N, P, and K. The results indicated that urea fertilization promoted greater vegetative growth and yield, while organic matter enhanced foliar potassium uptake. The application of efficient microorganisms (EM) did not produce statistically significant differences compared to the control treatment across all evaluated variables, as it significantly increased yield. Moreover, the interaction between nitrogen sources and fertilization rates showed that the combination of 150 kg N.ha-1 with EM optimized production. Inorganic fertilization with urea maximized cotton productivity, while organic matter contributed to a more sustainable production system, promoting sustainable agriculture.
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References
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Khaliq, A., Abbasi, K. & Hussain, T. (2006). Effects of integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with effective microorganisms (EM) on seed cotton yield in Pakistan. Bioresource Technology, 96(8). 967-972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.05.002
Li, P. C., Liu, A. Z., Liu, J. R., Zheng, C. S., Sun, M., Wang, G. P., Li, Y, B., Zhao, X. H. & Dong, H. L. (2017). Effect of timing and ratio of urea fertilization on 15n ecovery and yield of cotton. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 27(3), 929-939. https://thejaps.org.pk/docs/v-27-03/30.pdf
Li, P., Rashid, H., Chen, T., Lu, Q., Ge., O., Gong, W., Liu, A. Gong, J. Shang, H., Deng, X., Li, J., Li, S., Xiao, X., Lui., R., Zhang, Q., Duan, L., Zou, X., Zhang, Z., Jiang, X., Zhang, Y., Peng, R., Shi, Y. & Yuan, Y. (2019). Transcriptomic and biochemical analysis of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and a chromosome segment substitution line from G. hirsutum × G. barbadense in response to Verticillium dahliae infection. BMC Plant Biology, 19(19), 21-24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-018-1619-4
Liu, Z., Jin, W., Guo, J., Yuan, J., Wang, S., Yang, H., Meng, Y. & Zhou, Z. (2023). Efficient cotton population photosynthetic production synergistically increases seedcotton yield and fiber quality through straw incorporation with appropriate nitrogen fertilization in wheat-cotton rotation system, Field Crops Research, 304, 109147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023. 109147.
Wang, N., Nan, H. Y., & Feng, K. Y. (2020). Effects of reduced chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer application on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and cotton yield. The Journal of Applied Ecology, 31(1), 173-181. doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202001.022
Palomo, A., Gaytán, M., Contreras, A., Sánchez, R. & Gutiérrez, D. (2004). Rendimiento y calidad de fibra de algodón en respuesta al número de riegos y dosis de nitrógeno. Terra LatinoAmericana, 22(3), 299-305. http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=57322306
Rodríguez, A. & Ruiz, P. (1996). El sistema agroindustrial del algodón en España. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. https://www.mapa.gob.es/ministerio/pags/Biblioteca/fondo/pdf/18252_all.pdf
Shareef, M., Gui, D., Zeng, F., Waqas, M., Ahmed, Z., Zhang, B., Iqbal, H. & Xue, J. (2019). Nitrogen leaching, recovery efficiency, and cotton productivity assessments on desert-sandy soil under various application methods. Agricultural Water Management, 223, 105716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat. 2019.105716
Shi, Y., Niu, X., Chen, B., Pu, S., Ma, H., Li, P., Feng, G. & Ma, X. (2023). Chemical fertilizer reduction combined with organic fertilizer affects the soil microbial community and diversity and yield of cotton. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1295722. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1295722
Tao, R., Wakelin, S. A., Lian, Y. & Chu, G. (2017). Organic fertilization enhances cotton productivity, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil nitrogen fertility under drip irrigated field. Agronomy Journal, 109, 2889-2897. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2017. 01.0054
Vesco Galdi, L., dos Santos Cordeiro, C. F., de Senna e Silva, B., Rodríguez de La Torre, E. J. & Echer, F. R. (2022). Interactive effects of increased plant density, cultivars and N rates in environments with different cotton yield recovery potential. Industrial Crops and Products, 176, 114394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.114394.
Vitale, G. S., Scavo, A., Zingale, S., Tuttolomondo, T., Santonoceto, C., Pandino, G., Lombardo, S., Anastasi, U. & Guarnaccia, P. (2024). Agronomic strategies for sustainable cotton production: A sistematic literatura review. Agriculture, 14(9), 1597. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091597
Wang, N., Nan, H. & Feng, K. (2020). Effects of reduced chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer application on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and cotton yield. Journal of Applied Ecology, 31(1), 173-181. https://doi.org/10.13287/ J.1001-9332.202001.022
Wang, N., Zhan, J., Feng, K., Qi, J. & Nan, H. (2024) Higher yield sustainability and soil quality by reducing chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer application under a singlecotton cropping system. Front. Plant Sci., 15,1494667. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1494667
Wu, D., Wang, W., Yao, Y., Li, H., Wang, Q. & Niu, B. (2023). Microbial interactions within beneficial consortia promote soil health. Science of the Total Environment, 900, 165801. https://10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165801
Yang, X., Geng, J., Huo, X., Lei, S., Lang, Y., Li, H. & Liu, Q. (2021). Effects of different nitrogen fertilizer types and rates on cotton leaf senescence, yield and soil inorganic nitrogen. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 67(11), 1507-1520 doi:10.1080/03650340.2020.1799983
Zonta, J. H., Brandao, Z. N., Rodrigues, J. I. D. S. & Sofiatti, V. (2017). Cotton response to water deficits at different growth stages. Revista Caatinga, 30, 980-990. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252017v30n419rc
Blaise, D., Singh, J. V., Bonde, A. N., Tekale, C. & Mayee, C. (2005). Effects of farmyard manure and fertilizers on yield, fibre quality and nutrient balance of rainfed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Bioresource Technology, 96(3), 345-349. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096085 2404001439
Bozorov, T., Usmanov, R., Yang, H., Hamdullaev, A., Musayev, S., Shavkiev, J., Nabiev, S., Zhang, D. & Abdullaev, A. (2018). Effect of water deficiency on relationships between metabolism, physiology, biomass, and yield of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Journal of Arid Land., 10(3), 441-456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-018-0009-y
Cañarte, E., Sotelo, R. & Navarrete, B. (2020). Generación de tecnologías para incrementar la productividad del algodón Gossypium hirsutum L. en Manabí, Ecuador. Revista Ciencia UNEMI, 13(33), 1-17. http://ojs.unemi.edu.ec/index. php/cienciaunemi/article/view/1085/1096
Chen, J., Liu, L., Wang, Z., Sun, H., Zhang, Y., Bai, Z. & Li, C. (2019). Nitrogen fertilization effects on physiology of the cotton boll–leaf system. Agronomy, 9(6), 2-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060271
Chinga, W., Torrez, A., Mármol, L. & Chirinos, D. (2020). Efecto de un lixiviado de vermicompost sobre el crecimiento y producción del algodón. Revista Científica Ecuatoriana, 7(2), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.36331/revista.v7i2. 130130
da Silva, C. M., de Albuquerque Ribeiro, A., da Silva, E. F., Garcias da Silva, M., Vieira Alencar, S. & Vicente Paulo, S. A. (2023). Cotton nitrogen doses in the edaphoclimatical conditions of northeastern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biosystems Engineering, 17, 1194. https://doi.org/10.18011/bioeng.2023. v17.1194
Di Rienzo, J., Casanoves, F., Balzarine, M., Gonzales, L., Tablada, M. & Robledo, C. (2019). InfoStat versión 2019. Grupo InoStat. FCA. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. http://www.infostat.com.ar
Duan, W.-J., Ma, T.-T., Zhang, Y.-J., Chen, L., Jiang, D., Liu, L.-T., Sun, H.-C., Zhang, K., Bai, Z.-Y. & Li, C.-D. (2020). Effects of different nitrification inhibitor DCD addition ratios in nitrogen fertilizer on cotton growth and yield. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 26(11), 2095-2106. doi: 10.11674/zwyf.20092
Geng, J., Yang, X., Huo, X., Chen, J., Lei, S., Lang, Y. & Liu, Q. (2020). Effects of controlled-release urea combined with fulvic acid on soil inorganic nitrogen, leaf senescence and yield of cotton. Scientific Reports, 10, 17135. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74218-2
Gospodinova, G., Panayotova, G. (2019). Strategies for nitrogen fertilization of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). A review. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 25(Suppl. 3), 59-67. https://www.agrojournal.org/25/03s-10.pdf
Henríquez, C., Bertsch, F. & Salaas, R. (1998). La fertilidad de suelos: Manual de laboratorio. Asociación Costarricense de la Ciencia del Suelo.
Higa, T. & Parr, J. F. (1995). Beneficial and effective microorganisms for a sustainable agriculture and environment. International Nature Farming Research Center, 1, 16. https://www.em-pars.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/7-beneficial-and-effective-microorganisms-for-a-sustainab-.pdf
Holdridge, L. R. (1978). Ecología basada en zonas de vida. Centro Científico Tropical. Instituto Interamericano de Ciencias Agrícolas. San José, Costa Rica. https://hdl.handle.net/11324/7936
Hussain, I., Saleem, S., Ullah, H., Nasir, M., Iqbal, M. U., Saleem, M., Khaliq, A., Masood, S. A., Farooq, M. S., Hanif, M., Nisa, Z. U., Jabbar, A., Ullah Ghazali, H. M. Z. & Khan, A. A. (2024). The role of fermented farmyard manure in promoting soil health and economic sustainability in cotton farming under changing climate. Journal of Economic Impact, 6(3), 273-277. https://doi.org/10.52223/econimpact.2024.6312
Khaliq, A., Abbasi, K. & Hussain, T. (2006). Effects of integrated use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources with effective microorganisms (EM) on seed cotton yield in Pakistan. Bioresource Technology, 96(8). 967-972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.05.002
Li, P. C., Liu, A. Z., Liu, J. R., Zheng, C. S., Sun, M., Wang, G. P., Li, Y, B., Zhao, X. H. & Dong, H. L. (2017). Effect of timing and ratio of urea fertilization on 15n ecovery and yield of cotton. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 27(3), 929-939. https://thejaps.org.pk/docs/v-27-03/30.pdf
Li, P., Rashid, H., Chen, T., Lu, Q., Ge., O., Gong, W., Liu, A. Gong, J. Shang, H., Deng, X., Li, J., Li, S., Xiao, X., Lui., R., Zhang, Q., Duan, L., Zou, X., Zhang, Z., Jiang, X., Zhang, Y., Peng, R., Shi, Y. & Yuan, Y. (2019). Transcriptomic and biochemical analysis of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and a chromosome segment substitution line from G. hirsutum × G. barbadense in response to Verticillium dahliae infection. BMC Plant Biology, 19(19), 21-24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-018-1619-4
Liu, Z., Jin, W., Guo, J., Yuan, J., Wang, S., Yang, H., Meng, Y. & Zhou, Z. (2023). Efficient cotton population photosynthetic production synergistically increases seedcotton yield and fiber quality through straw incorporation with appropriate nitrogen fertilization in wheat-cotton rotation system, Field Crops Research, 304, 109147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023. 109147.
Wang, N., Nan, H. Y., & Feng, K. Y. (2020). Effects of reduced chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer application on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and cotton yield. The Journal of Applied Ecology, 31(1), 173-181. doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202001.022
Palomo, A., Gaytán, M., Contreras, A., Sánchez, R. & Gutiérrez, D. (2004). Rendimiento y calidad de fibra de algodón en respuesta al número de riegos y dosis de nitrógeno. Terra LatinoAmericana, 22(3), 299-305. http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=57322306
Rodríguez, A. & Ruiz, P. (1996). El sistema agroindustrial del algodón en España. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. https://www.mapa.gob.es/ministerio/pags/Biblioteca/fondo/pdf/18252_all.pdf
Shareef, M., Gui, D., Zeng, F., Waqas, M., Ahmed, Z., Zhang, B., Iqbal, H. & Xue, J. (2019). Nitrogen leaching, recovery efficiency, and cotton productivity assessments on desert-sandy soil under various application methods. Agricultural Water Management, 223, 105716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat. 2019.105716
Shi, Y., Niu, X., Chen, B., Pu, S., Ma, H., Li, P., Feng, G. & Ma, X. (2023). Chemical fertilizer reduction combined with organic fertilizer affects the soil microbial community and diversity and yield of cotton. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1295722. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1295722
Tao, R., Wakelin, S. A., Lian, Y. & Chu, G. (2017). Organic fertilization enhances cotton productivity, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil nitrogen fertility under drip irrigated field. Agronomy Journal, 109, 2889-2897. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2017. 01.0054
Vesco Galdi, L., dos Santos Cordeiro, C. F., de Senna e Silva, B., Rodríguez de La Torre, E. J. & Echer, F. R. (2022). Interactive effects of increased plant density, cultivars and N rates in environments with different cotton yield recovery potential. Industrial Crops and Products, 176, 114394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.114394.
Vitale, G. S., Scavo, A., Zingale, S., Tuttolomondo, T., Santonoceto, C., Pandino, G., Lombardo, S., Anastasi, U. & Guarnaccia, P. (2024). Agronomic strategies for sustainable cotton production: A sistematic literatura review. Agriculture, 14(9), 1597. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091597
Wang, N., Nan, H. & Feng, K. (2020). Effects of reduced chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer application on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and cotton yield. Journal of Applied Ecology, 31(1), 173-181. https://doi.org/10.13287/ J.1001-9332.202001.022
Wang, N., Zhan, J., Feng, K., Qi, J. & Nan, H. (2024) Higher yield sustainability and soil quality by reducing chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer application under a singlecotton cropping system. Front. Plant Sci., 15,1494667. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1494667
Wu, D., Wang, W., Yao, Y., Li, H., Wang, Q. & Niu, B. (2023). Microbial interactions within beneficial consortia promote soil health. Science of the Total Environment, 900, 165801. https://10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165801
Yang, X., Geng, J., Huo, X., Lei, S., Lang, Y., Li, H. & Liu, Q. (2021). Effects of different nitrogen fertilizer types and rates on cotton leaf senescence, yield and soil inorganic nitrogen. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 67(11), 1507-1520 doi:10.1080/03650340.2020.1799983
Zonta, J. H., Brandao, Z. N., Rodrigues, J. I. D. S. & Sofiatti, V. (2017). Cotton response to water deficits at different growth stages. Revista Caatinga, 30, 980-990. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252017v30n419rc
Published
2025-04-19
How to Cite
Mera, J., Zambrano, F., García, M., León, R., Peñarrieta, S., & Sánchez-Urdaneta, A. (2025). Effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on the growth and yield of Gossypium hirsutum L. in Ecuador. Revista De La Facultad De Agronomía De La Universidad Del Zulia, 42(2), e254220. Retrieved from https://mail.produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/agronomia/article/view/43803
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Section
Crop Production
Copyright (c) 2025 Julio César Mera Macías, Freddy Eli Zambrano Gavilanes., Marina Coromoto García de Almeida,Rolando León Aguilar, Soraya Peñarrieta Bravo, Adriana Beatriz Sánchez-Urdaneta
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