Growth Parameters of Cotton in Relay Strip Intercropping: Before and After Wheat Harvest

To investigate cotton's adaptation to various microclimates provided by wheat height, a field experiment was conducted to observe the morphological and physiological traits of cotton seedlings before and after wheat harvest. The cotton was grown in relay strip intercropping with wheat of varying heights. The study observed canopy temperature depression (CTD), average leaf area (ALA), specific leaf area (SLA), SPAD values, net assimilation rates (NAR), total dry weight (TDW). During the shading period, intercropped cotton exhibited stress, indicated by CTD, compared to monocropped cotton (MC). This negative effect was more pronounced in short wheat-cotton intercropping (SC). Microclimates influenced leaf traits and biomass accumulation, with smaller ALA, higher SLA, higher SPAD values, and lower NAR observed in intercropped cotton, especially in SC, resulting in decreased TDW. Following wheat harvest, cotton plants, particularly in SC, exhibited significant NAR recovery by adjusting leaf structure. However, while this adjustment mitigated differences in TDW and yield compared to tall wheat-cotton intercropping (TC), disparities with MC remained. SC had a more pronounced negative impact on cotton before wheat harvest compared to TC. However, rapid recovery of cotton mitigated this negative effect in SC after wheat harvest.