Modeling Non-Mulched Cultivation Cotton Growth and Yield Responses to Irrigation Scheduling Using Canopy-Modified Cotton2k Model

Non-mulch planting technology is an effective mean to solve the residual plastic mulch pollution in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fields in southern Xinjiang. The impacts of irrigation management on the growth development and yield of non-mulch cotton were quantitatively evaluating by employing a cotton growth simulating system in this research. The spatio-temporal distribution of the effective photosynthetic leaf area index in the canopy at different developmental stages varies strongly. The Cotton2K model with modification in canopy submodel will be referenced as a basic theoretical model, and calibrated using field experiments data during the two cotton growing seasons of 2019 and 2020. Firstly, in order to improve the simulation accuracy of light energy interception, a stratified model for spatial distribution ratio of effective area index in canopy and physiological development time was built. Secondly, the processbased cotton photosynthetic production and dry matter accumulation models will be created. Finally, the dry matter distribution, the number of branches, squares, bolls, open bolls, fruiting sites and aborted fruits will be calculated, thereby establishing a cotton growth model. The decline of normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) for canopy related metrics shows that modifications significantly (p < 0.05) improved the accuracies of simulation