Integrated Cotton Management System to Increase Cottonseed Yields and Useful Embryo Oil and Protein Components

Cottonseed is widely used as a source of ruminant feed and for industrial purposes. Therefore, there is a tremendous need to improve the nutritional value of cotton embryos. In this study, a conventional management (CM) and two integrated cotton management system (ICM1, ICM2) were performed at two soil fertility levels to increase cottonseed yields and useful embryo oil and protein components. The cottonseed, oil and protein yields for ICM1 and ICM2 were significantly higher than those for CM at two soil fertility levels, which was the result of increased seed weight and partitioning of biomass into oil and proteins, which can compensate for the reduced oil content. The levels of proteins, essential amino acids, and semi-essential amino acids, especially those of glutamate, lysine, and methionine, were higher in ICM1 and ICM2 embryos than in CM embryos. In addition, integrated management strategies produced high oleic cotton embryonic oil. These results illustrated that the combination of target yield fertilization, a growth-driven N application schedule, an optimal plant density and the seedling raising with bio-organic fertilizer can improve the yields and quality of cottonseed, especially at a soil with low soil organic matter and total nitrogen.