DROUGHT STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE COTTON PRODUCTION – A REVIEW

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the most important abiotic constraints affecting global cotton production due to its longer growth duration, higher water requirement, and sensitivity of fibre development processes to moisture deficits. Drought management is a major challenge for sustainable cotton production systems, due to the increased vulnerability of cotton-growing countries caused by increasing climate variability, irregular rainfall patterns, and declining freshwater availability. Even short-term water deficits can significantly reduce photosynthetic efficiency, disrupt physiological processes, and negatively affect fibre quality attributes, like length, strength, and fineness. Reduced leaf area, altered root architecture, stomatal regulation, and decreased carbon assimilation are examples of morphological and physiological responses to drought stress. The role of biochemical mechanisms such as osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense systems, and hormonal signalling pathways is related to plant adaptation under water-limited conditions. Recent advances in breeding, such as Conventional breeding strategies, Marker-asissted selection, and CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing are evaluated for their potential to develop drought-tolerant cultivars while maintaining fibre quality traits. Agronomic strategies for drought mitigation and climate-smart drought management, such as precision agriculture, remote sensing, soil moisture monitoring, and crop simulation modelling, are innovative solutions for improving water-use efficiency and supporting decision making under changing climate conditions. Overall, integrated drought management strategies are essential for safeguarding yield stability, maintaining premium fibre quality, and ensuring the long-term viability of cotton under increasing drought stress.