Navigating Drought Stress in Cotton Production: Challenges, Strategies, and Pathways to Sustainability

This manuscript explores the adverse effects of drought stress on cotton production and presents strategies to mitigate its impact. Drought stress poses significant challenges to cotton cultivation, disrupting plant physiology, reproductive development, and environmental sustainability. Physiological responses to water deficits, such as stomatal closure, impair photosynthesis and biomass accumulation, leading to reduced growth and yield potential. Additionally, drought stress during flowering and boll development results in flower abortion, decreased boll size, and poor fiber quality, exacerbating economic losses for growers. Moreover, water stress renders cotton plants more susceptible to pests, diseases, and lodging, further compromising crop health and yield stability. Environmental degradation, including soil erosion and water resource depletion, further exacerbates the challenges faced by cotton producers. To address these challenges, a multifaceted approach is necessary, incorporating soil moisture conservation, crop management practices, genetic improvements, irrigation management, and integrated agronomic strategies. By promoting sustainable water management, developing drought-tolerant varieties, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, cotton growers can enhance resilience and safeguard the sustainability of this vital agricultural commodity.

Keywords:

cotton , drought stress , reproductive development , environmental degradation , mitigation strategies , sustainable agriculture