Impact of enhanced ultraviolet-B irradiance on cotton yield and qualities

The stratospheric ozone depletion and enhanced solar Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiance may have adverse impacts on the productivity of agricultural crops. The effect of UV-B enhancements on agricultural crops includes reduction in yield, alteration in species competition, decrease in photosynthetic activity, susceptibility to disease, and changes in structure and pigmentation. Many studies have examined the influence of supplementing UV-B irradiance on different crops, but the effect of UV-B irradiance on cotton crops has received little attention. The cotton crop is one of the most versatile of all the crops. It is a major fiber crop of the world and a major source of trade and economy in many countries. In this study we provide quantitative examination of the effects of elevated UV-B irradiance on cotton. The tested cotton crop was grown under natural and supplemental levels of UV-B irradiance in the cotton field. The results in this study showed that the supplemented UV-B irradiance has negative impacts on cotton growth, development, yield, and fiber quality. A brief discussion is included on how the impacts on cotton contrast with impacts that have been observed in other studies on other plants, including trees.