Response of plant physiological parameters to soil water availability during prolonged drought is affected by soil texture

Soil water deficit is increasingly threatening the sustainable vegetation restoration and ecological construction on the Loess Plateau of China due to the climate warming and human activities. To determine the response thresholds of Amygdalus pedunculata (AP) and Salix psammophila (SP) to soil water availability under different textural soils, we measured the changes in net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), leaf water potential (ψ_w), water use efficiency (WUE) and daily transpiration rate (T_d) of the two plant species during soil water content (SWC) decreased from 100% field capacity (FC) to 20% FC in the sandy and loamy soils on the Loess Plateau in the growing season from June to August in 2018. Results showed that P_n, G_s, WUE and T_d of AP and SP remained relatively constant at the beginning of soil water deficit but decreased rapidly as plant available soil water content (PASWC) fell below the threshold values in both the sandy and loamy soils. The PASWC thresholds corresponding to P_n, G_s and C_i of AP in the loamy soil (0.61, 0.62 and 0.70, respectively) were lower than those in the sandy soil (0.70, 0.63 and 0.75, respectively), whereas the PASWC thresholds corresponding to P_n, G_s and C_i of SP in the loamy soil (0.63, 0.68 and 0.78, respectively) were higher than those in the sandy soil (0.58, 0.62 and 0.66, respectively). In addition, the PASWC thresholds in relation to T_d and WUE of AP (0.60 and 0.58, respectively) and SP (0.62 and 0.60, respectively) in the loamy soil were higher than the corresponding PASWC thresholds of AP (0.58 and 0.52, respectively) and SP (0.55 and 0.56, respectively) in the sandy soil. Furthermore, the PASWC thresholds for the instantaneous gas exchange parameters (e.g., P_n and G_s) at the transient scale were higher than the thresholds for the parameters (e.g., T_d) at the daily scale. Our study demonstrates that different plant species and/or different physiological parameters exhibit different thresholds of PASWC and that the thresholds are affected by soil texture. The result can provide guidance for the rational allocation and sustainable management of reforestation species under different soil conditions in the loess regions.     

Seasonal changes in the water-use strategies of three herbaceous species in a native desert steppe of Ningxia,China

Frequent periods of drought conditions are known to limit plant performance,primary production,and ecosystem stability in arid and semi-arid desert steppe environments.Plants often avoid competition by shifting their water use seasonally,which affects the water-use patterns of dominant species as well as the composition and structure of plant communities.However,the water-use strategies of dominant herbaceous species,which grow under natural field conditions in the desert steppe region of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China,are poorly known.Here,we explored the possible sources of water uptake and water-use efficiency(WUE)of three dominant herbaceous plant species(Stipa breviflora,Agropyron mongolicum,and Glycyrrhiza uralensis)in a native desert steppe in the semi-arid area of Ningxia through an analysis of multiple parameters,including(1)the stable isotopic oxygen and hydrogen(δ18O andδ2H)compositions of precipitation,soil water,and stem water,(2)the carbon isotope(13C)composition of leaves,and(3)the soil water contents,based on field sampling across varying water conditions from June to September,2017.Frequent small precipitation events replenished shallow soil water,whereas large events only percolated down to the deep soil layers.Changes in soil water availability affected the water-use patterns of plants.Generally,during light precipitation periods,the deep root system of G.uralensis accessed deeper(>80 cm)soil water,whereas S.breviflora and A.mongolicum,which only have shallow roots,primarily absorbed water from the shallow and middle soil layers.As precipitation increased,all three plant species primarily obtained water from the shallow soil layers.Variation in soil water uptake between the dry and wet seasons enabled plants to make better use of existing satoil water.In addition,theδ13C values of G.uralensis and S.breviflora were higher than those of A.mongolicum.Theδ13C values of the three plant species were significantly negatively correlated with soil water content.Therefore,G.uralensis and S.breviflora maintained a higher WUE through their conservative and water-saving strategies across the entire growing season.In contrast,A.mongolicum,with a relatively low WUE in the wet season but a high WUE in the dry season,exhibited a more flexible water-use strategy.The different water-use strategies of these dominant plant species demonstrated the mechanisms by which plant communities can respond to drought.     

Water utilization of typical plant communities in desert steppe,China

Water is a limiting factor in the restoration and construction of desert steppe. Exploring plant water sources is necessary to understand soil-plant interactions and species coexistence; however, water sources of major plant communities within the desert steppe of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the water uptake of plants in four typical communities: Agropyron mongolicum Keng.; Sophora alopecuroids Linn.; Stipa breviflora Griseb., and Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski communities. Stable isotopes δD and δ¹⁸O in the xylem of plant and soil water at different soil depths were analyzed. An IsoSource model was used to determine the soil depths from which plants obtained water. Results showed that A. mongolicum community obtained water predominantly from 0-20 and 40-80 cm depth, S. alopecuroids community from 0-20 cm depth, S. breviflora community from 0-40 cm depth, and A. splendens community from 0-20 and 80-140 cm depths. S. alopecuroides had a wider range of soil depths for water extraction, i.e., utilizing different water sources depending on habitat, and the plasticity of its water uptake pattern determined its role in different communities. Water source of plants relayed heavily on the distribution of their roots. Competition for soil water exists between different plant life forms in the sierozem habitat (A. mongolicum, S. alopecuroids, and S. breviflora communities), and in the sandy soil habitat (A. splendens community). The use of soil water by A. splendens community is more spatially differentiated, and shrubs and herbs can coexist stably. Under the pattern of extended drought period in the future, sierozem habitat may be more favorable for the formation of a dominant monoculture community type of perennial fibrous plants. In aeolian sandy soil habitat, A. splendens had a strong competitive advantage, and the growth of shallow-rooted plants was easily suppressed.     

土壤水分调亏处理膜下滴灌马铃薯耗水特征及生长动态

以青薯"168"为试验材料,通过大田试验,研究了膜下滴灌调亏对河西绿洲马铃薯土壤水分动态、耗水特征、生长动态及产量的影响。试验设5个水分调亏处理,即块茎形成期和块茎膨大期分别进行轻度(55%~65%田间持水量,FC)和重度(45%~55%FC)调亏,淀粉积累期轻度(55%~65%FC)调亏,以全生育期充分供水(65%~75%FC)为对照。结果表明:受水分调亏影响,上层0~40 cm土壤水分变化较下层40~60 cm明显,马铃薯块茎膨大期经受轻度和中度水分亏缺土壤贮水量显著(P0.05)低于充分供水8.1%和18.7%,耗水强度则显著降低60.0%和73.0%。块茎形成期进行不同程度水分调亏后复水,其叶面积指数(LAI)、光合势(LAD)、相对生长率(RGR)均表现出补偿效应,而块茎膨大期进行轻度和中度水分调亏以及淀粉积累期轻度水分调亏LAI、LAD及RGR均呈下降趋势,其薯块产量与全生育期充分供水相比分别降低22.3%、26.5%、38.7%。因此,马铃薯生长后期应注重供水以延长绿叶面积,对作物产量的形成有利。     

Time effect on bentazone sorption and degradation in soil

Previous sorption/desorption batch experiments have indicated that bentazone is weakly sorbed by soils. In addition, field experiments have shown that 4% of the bentazone sprayed can be leached to drainage water. In order to complete bentazone characterisation, we have assessed the effect of time on its behaviour in contrasting soils. In laboratory studies, bentazone was added to three topsoils (sandy, loamy and clay soils). Bentazone degradation, sorption/desorption kinetics and isotherm measurements were carried out at different times. At 160 days after treatment, bentazone mineralisation amounts varied from 2.1% (sandy soil) to 14% (clay soil). The extractable amounts became lower (from 97% after treatment to 12% after 160 days for the clay soil) and a greater number of desorption series was needed to obtain these products. Nevertheless, at the end of the experiments, a small amount of bentazone was still extracted by water. At the same time, bound residues of bentazone reached 65% in clay soil. Statistical analysis indicated effects of both residence time and soil type on bentazone behaviour.     

Effect of soil type and soil water content levels on pupal mortality of the peach fruit fly [Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)] (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Peach fruit fly (PFF), Bactrocera zonata, is one of the most dangerous pests of horticultural crops worldwide. This pest spends part of its life cycle in the soil as pre-pupae and pupae. Therefore, the effects of soil type and soil water content levels (SWCLs) on pupal mortality rates of the PFF were studied in an attempt to use soil moisture as an abiotic management strategy for this pest. The effect of clay, loamy, and sandy soils with SWCL of 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, and 100% of field capacity on three ages of PFF pupae (newly formed, 4- and 7-day-old pupae) were studied. Results demonstrated significant effects of SWCLs on pupal mortality rates of PFF. SWCL was the factor with the most remarkable effect (48.47%), meanwhile soil type had a feeble effect (0.65%). Newly formed pupae were more susceptible to SWCL levels than 7- and 4-day-old pupae. Results suggest that sustaining SWCL near 100% of field capacity significantly (p?=?0.000) suppressed PFF population; therefore it could be an important component of Integrated Pest Management against this insect species.     

A preliminary study of water use strategy of desert plants in Dunhuang,China

Water is a restrictive factor for plant growth and ecosystem stability in arid and semiarid areas. The dynamics of water availability in soils and water use by plants are consequently critical to ecosystem functions, e.g. maintaining a high resistance to the changing climate. Plant water use strategies, including water-use efficiency(WUE) and the main water source that a plant species utilizes, play an important role in the evaluation of stability and sustainability of a plantation. The water use strategies of desert plants(Tamarix chinensis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Sophora alopecuroides, Bassia dasyphylla and Nitraria sphaerocarpa) in three different habitats(saline land, sandy land and Gobi) in Dunhuang(located in the typical arid area of northwestern China) were studied. The stable isotope of oxygen was used to determine the main water source and leaf carbon isotope discrimination was used to estimate the long-term WUE of plant species in the summer of 2010. The results suggest that: 1) the studied desert plants took up soil water below the depth of 80 cm; 2) T. chinensis in the three habitats used deeper soil water and T. chinensis in the Gobi site had higher WUE than those in the saline land and the sandy land. The results indicated that desert plants in Dunhuang depended on stable water source and maintained high WUE to survive in water limited environments.     

Influence of soil pH and contents of organic carbon and clay on the volatilization of [14C]fenpropimorph after application to bare soil

The behaviour of the morpholine fungicide fenpropimorph applied to soil was investigated in a laboratory chamber. The volatility and metabolism of a ¹⁴C-labelled fenpropimorph formulation (Corbel^®) was studied after application to three soils (sandy loam, loamy clay and loamy sand), simulating a four-day weather scenario in the volatilization chamber. Additional experiments were conducted under standard climatic conditions over a period of 24 h using sandy soils with different pH values. The results of the first experiments showed that most of the radioactivity applied remained in the soils as unchanged fenpropimorph four days after application. In the experiments with the sandy loam and loamy clay, less than 5% of the applied radioactivity was removed by volatilization whereas 11·4% volatilized from the surface of the loamy sand. The comparatively higher volatilization of the fungicide from the loamy sand was confirmed by the later experiments indicating that higher soil pH favoured volatilization of [¹⁴C]fenpropimorph from sandy soils. Thus 5·6% (pH 5·0), 18·9% (pH 5·8) and 28·3% (pH 6·6) of the radioactivity applied volatilized within one day after application. The overall recoveries were between 93·8% and 111·3% in these experiments. © 1998 SCI     

Biocrust-induced partitioning of soil water between grass and shrub in a desert steppe of Northwest China

Maintaining the stability of exotic sand-binding shrub has become a large challenge in arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems in northern China. We investigated two kinds of shrublands with different BSCs (biological soil crusts) cover in desert steppe in Northwest China to characterize the water sources of shrub (Caragana intermedia Kuang et H. C. Fu) and grass (Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit.) by stable ¹⁸O isotopic. Our results showed that both shrublands were subject to persistent soil water deficiency from 2012 to 2017, the minimum soil depth with CV (coefficient of variation) <15% and SWC (soil water content) <6% was 1.4 m in shrubland with open areas lacking obvious BSC cover, and 0.8 m in shrubland covered by mature BSCs. For C. intermedia, a considerable proportion of water sources pointed to the surface soil. Water from BSCs contributed to averages 22.9% and 17.6% of the total for C. intermedia and A. scoparia, respectively. C. intermedia might use more water from BSCs in rainy season than dry season, in contrast to A. scoparia. The relationship between shrub (or grass) and soil water by δ¹⁸O shown significant differences in months, which partly verified the potential trends and relations covered by the high variability of the water source at seasonal scale. More fine roots at 0-5 cm soil layer could be found in the surface soil layer covered by BSCs (8000 cm/m³) than without BSCs (3200 cm/m³), which ensured the possibility of using the surface soil water by C. intermedia. The result implies that even under serious soil water deficiency, C. intermedia can use the surface soil water, leading to the coexistence between C. intermedia and A. scoparia. Different with the result from BSCs in desert areas, the natural withdrawal of artificial C. intermedia from desert steppe will be a long-term process, and the highly competitive relationship between shrubs and grasses also determines that its habitat will be maintained in serious drought state for a long time.     

不同耕作方式对黑土农田土壤水分及 利用效率的影响

在土壤耕作长期定位试验的基础上,研究了免耕秸秆覆盖(NT)和少耕(RT)对东北黑土区农田土壤水分及利用效率、玉米产量及特性的影响。结果表明:在作物生长季3种耕作措施土壤剖面含水量整体上呈先降低后增加的变化趋势,各时期20～40 cm土层含水量均较低。免耕可显著提高0～90 cm土层土壤含水量,90 cm土层以下三种措施土壤含水量差异逐渐降低,到190 cm土层差异不明显。土体储水量主要受降雨及不同耕作措施的影响,在干旱的春季以及降水量较少的秋季土体储水量较低,表现为:免耕>传统>少耕,而在降水量较大时土体储水量相应增加,表现为:少耕>免耕>传统。3种耕作措施下玉米叶面积指数变化趋势一致,总体表现为:传统>少耕>免耕,其中传统和少耕最高分别比免耕高0.22和0.26。在生长季少耕蒸散量最高。传统耕作玉米籽粒产量和水分利用效率分别较免耕和少耕高30%和17%,29%和11%,籽粒产量均存在显著性差异(P<0.05),表现为:传统>少耕>免耕,所以对于玉米而言,在该区不适宜实施免耕秸秆覆盖和少耕这两种保护性耕作体系。     

Partitioning evapotranspiration of desert plants under different water regimes in the inland Heihe River Basin,Northwestern China

Plant transpiration (T), soil evaporation (E), and the proportion of evaporation in evapotranspiration (ET), and their patterns of change were analyzed in a desert habitat along the middle and lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin, Gansu Province, China. Typical desert plants with different life forms were selected and small lysimeter observations were conducted; various species were measured under two soil water regimes using 50% (FC 50%) and 20% (FC 20%) of field capacity in 2 years. Under the FC 50% treatment the observed ratio of T to ET of desert plants was less than one-third, making the ratio of E to ET greater than two-thirds; the proportion of T to ET of desert plants increased to above 40%, and that of E declined to below 60% under the FC 20% treatment. The lowest T of desert plants was 130–140 mm based on the plant crown projection area. The characteristic coefficient of ET of desert plants was twice that of the characteristic coefficient of transpiration. This study found that when ET was measured for the same desert plant species growing in different regions, the ET differed significantly (P < 0.05) under the same water regimes; when comparing different plant species in the same region no obvious differences in the transpiration water requirement and ET were observed. The proportion of T in ET increased significantly and E in ET decreased markedly (P < 0.05), if the soil moisture content declined to where the plants experienced water stress.     

不同土壤水分条件下施肥方式对甘薯叶片气体交换的调节作用

采用盆栽试验,以甘薯品种秦薯4号和619为材料,研究了不同土壤水分条件下施肥方式对甘薯叶片气体交换的影响.结果表明,土壤水分和施肥方式对甘薯叶片净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用效率(WUE)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)以及气孔限制值(Ls)有显著或极显著的影响,水肥之间存在明显的互作效应.与土壤湿润( 田间持水量70%～75%)相比,土壤轻旱(田间持水量40%～45%)对甘薯叶片Pn、Tr、WUE 、Gs、Ci以及Ls的影响较小,而重旱(田间持水量30%～35%)下,Pn、Tr、WUE、Gs和Gs 大幅下降,Ci明显上升.施肥有助于促进提高Pn、Tr、Gs以及Ls,降低Ci,而且氮磷配施的效果优于氮肥单施.Ci和Ls 的变化说明在土壤轻旱(40%～45%)条件下,甘薯叶片气体交换主要受气孔因素限制,而重旱(30%～35%)主要受非气孔因素限制.施肥通过改善气孔因素对甘薯叶片气体交换产生促进效应.     

马铃薯晚疫病菌在水和土壤中的侵染力与形态变化的研究

 马铃薯晚疫病菌以薄壁圆孢子和厚垣孢子的形态存在于润湿的土壤中。保持侵染力的时间最长为75天。病种薯上的病原菌在pH 7.5、含水率17-22%的土壤中,保持侵染力的时间是90天。
病原菌在各种液体中都能形成厚垣孢子。
较低的温度和较好的营养条件能延长孢囊孢子的寿命和延缓厚垣孢子的形成期。     

Gross nitrogen transformations and N_2O emission sources in sandy loam and silt loam soils

The soil type is a key factor influencing N(nitrogen) cycling in soil; however, gross N transformations and N_2O emission sources are still poorly understood. In this study, a laboratory ~(15)N tracing experiment was carried out at 60% WHC(water holding capacity) and 25℃ to evaluate the gross N transformation rates and N_2O emission pathways in sandy loam and silt loam soils in a semi-arid region of Heilongjiang Province, China. The results showed that the gross rates of N mineralization, immobilization, and nitrification were 3.60, 1.90, and 5.63 mg N/(kg·d) in silt loam soil, respectively, which were 3.62, 4.26, and 3.13 times those in sandy loam soil, respectively. The ratios of the gross nitrification rate to the ammonium immobilization rate(n/ia) in sandy loam soil and silt loam soil were all higher than 1.00, whereas the n/ia in sandy loam soil(4.36) was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(3.08). This result indicated that the ability of sandy loam soil to release and conserve the available N was relatively poor in comparison with silt loam soil, and the relatively strong nitrification rate compared to the immobilization rate may lead to N loss through NO_3~– leaching. Under aerobic conditions, both nitrification and denitrification made contributions to N_2O emissions. Nitrification was the dominant pathway leading to N_2O production in soils and was responsible for 82.0% of the total emitted N_2O in sandy loam soil, which was significantly higher than that in silt loam soil(71.7%). However, the average contribution of denitrification to total N_2O production in sandy loam soil was 17.9%, which was significantly lower than that in silt loam soil(28.3%). These results are valuable for developing reasonable fertilization management and proposing effective greenhouse gas mitigation strategies in different soil types in semiarid regions.     

水分与氮素营养对辽春10号小麦旗叶光合作用的影响

在盆栽条件下,研究不同水分条件下氮素营养对辽春10号春小麦籽粒灌浆期旗叶光合特性的影响.结果表明,随着土壤水分状况的改善,春小麦的光合作用不断增强.土壤相对合水量低于45%时,施氮处理春小麦旗叶气孔导度、蒸腾速率和WUEleaf降低,胞间二氧化碳浓度升高,光合速率受非气孔因素制约而降低.当土壤相对含水量在45%～75%时,随着氮肥施用量的增加和土壤相对含水量的提高,春小麦旗叶的光合效率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和WUEleaf不断增加,胞间二氧化碳浓度逐渐减小,气孔因素制约了光合效率的提高.当土壤相对含水量高于75%时,氮素营养对春小麦旗叶光合的促进作用减弱.     

Seasonal dynamics of soil water content in the typical vegetation and its response to precipitation in a semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau

Soil water content is a key limiting factor for vegetation growth in the semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau and precipitation is the main source of soil water content in this area. To further understand the impact of vegetation types and environmental factors such as precipitation on soil water content, we continuously monitored the seasonal dynamics in soil water content in four plots (natural grassland, Caragana korshinskii, Armeniaca sibirica and Pinus tabulaeformis) in Chinese Loess Plateau. The results show that the amplitude of soil water content fluctuation decreases with an increase in soil depth, showing obvious seasonal variations. Soil water content of artificial vegetation was found to be significantly lower than that of natural grassland, and most precipitation events have difficulty replenishing soil water content below a depth of 40 cm. Spring and autumn are the key seasons for replenishment of soil water by precipitation. Changes in soil water content are affected by precipitation, vegetation types, soil evaporation and other factors. The interception effect of vegetation on precipitation and the demand for water consumption by transpiration are the key factors affecting the efficiency of soil water replenishment by precipitation in this area. Due to artificial vegetation plantation in this area, soil will face a water deficit crisis in the future.     

混合猎物对蠋蝽生长、繁殖和捕食能力的影响

为进一步提升蠋蝽室内繁育和田间应用技术,本研究以桑蚕蛹、柞蚕蛹为猎物,评价了单一和混合猎物饲养蠋蝽对其生长发育、繁殖和捕食能力的影响。研究发现：猎物并不影响蠋蝽若虫的发育历期,各处理下蠋蝽发育历期平均在26 d;但显著影响蠋蝽的产卵前期,混合猎物饲养的蠋蝽产卵前期为10.3 d,分别是桑蚕蛹猎物的1.54倍、柞蚕蛹猎物的1.34倍。同时,猎物显著影响蠋蝽的体型、繁殖、寿命和耐饥饿时间,混合猎物饲养的蠋蝽体型比单一猎物增加5%～9%、产卵量增加13%～38%、寿命延长2～7 d、捕食量提高15%～20%、耐饥饿时间延长20%～60%。     

Evaluation of propargyl bromide for control of barnyardgrass and Fusarium oxysporum in three soils

With the scheduled phasing out of methyl bromide, there is an urgent need for alternatives. We evaluated the efficacy of propargyl bromide as a potential replacement for methyl bromide for the control of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and Fusarium oxysporum in an Arlington sandy loam, a Carsitas loamy sand and a Florida muck soil. Soil was mixed with barnyardgrass seeds or F oxysporum colonized on millet seeds, and treated with propargyl bromide at a range of concentrations. The mortality of the fungi and weed seeds was determined after 24 h of exposure at 30 degrees C. The concentrations required to inhibit 50% barnyard seed germination (LC50) were 2.8, 2.4 and 48.5 micrograms g-1 in the sandy loam, loamy sand and muck soil, respectively. In contrast, the LC50 values for F oxysporum were 11.2, 10.8 and 182.1 micrograms g-1 in the sandy loam, loamy sand and muck soil, respectively. The low efficacy of propargyl bromide in the muck soil was a result of the rapid degradation and high adsorption of the compound in the soil. The degradation half-life (t1/2) was only 7 h in the muck soil at an initial concentration of 6.8 micrograms g-1, compared to 60 and 67 h in the sandy loam and loamy sand, respectively. The adsorption coefficients (Kd) were 0.96, 0.87 and 5.6 cm3 g-1 in the sandy loam, loamy sand and muck soil, respectively. These results suggest that registration agencies should consider site-specific properties in recommending application rates for propargyl bromide.     

麦草覆盖免耕栽培马铃薯调亏灌溉技术试验研究

2008~2009年在甘肃民乐县洪水河灌区进行了麦草覆盖免耕栽培马铃薯调亏灌溉大田试验,结果表明:麦草覆盖马铃薯栽培苗期进行轻度水分胁迫,处理的产量较覆盖充分灌溉处理没有显著降低,而马铃薯的水分利用效率、干物质、淀粉以及维生素C含量都与其它处理间存在差异,其值均达到了最大,分别为7.41 kg/m3、22.41%、15.44%1、4.56 mg/100g鲜薯;同时麦草覆盖栽培充分灌溉处理产量等各项指标均优于常规土壤起垄种植充分灌溉处理,说明该技术能更有效地提高作物水分利用效率(WUE),改良块茎品质,提高产量,且幼苗期轻度水分亏缺是覆盖马铃薯调亏灌溉的最佳时期和调亏程度。     

Promoting the production of salinized cotton field by optimizing water and nitrogen use efficiency under drip irrigation

Cotton is the main economically important crop in Xinjiang, China, but soil salinization and shortage of water and nutrients have restricted its production. A field experiment was carried out in the salinity-affected arid area of Northwest China from 2018 to 2019 to explore the effects of nitrogen and water regulation on physiological growth, yield, water and nitrogen use efficiencies, and economic benefit of cotton. The salinity levels were 7.7 (SL) and 12.5 dS/m (SM). Drip irrigation was used with low, medium and adequate irrigation levels representing 60%, 80% and 100% of cotton crop water demand, respectively, and three nitrogen applications, i.e., 206, 275 and 343 kg/hm², accounting for 75%, 100% and 125% of local N application, respectively were used. The multi-objective optimization based on spatial analysis showed that, at SL salinity, water use efficiency (WUE), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), economic benefit and yield simultaneously reached more than 85% of their maxima at 379.18-398.32 mm irrigation and 256.69-308.87 kg/hm². At SM salinity, WUE, yield and economic benefit simultaneously reached more than 85% of their maxima when irrigation was 351.24-376.30 mm and nitrogen application was 230.18-289.89 kg/hm². NUE, yield and economic benefit simultaneously reached their maxima at 428.01-337.72 mm irrigation, and nitrogen application range was 222.14-293.93 kg/hm². The plants at SL salinity had 21.58%-46.59% higher WUE rates, 14.91%-34.35% higher NUE rates and 20.71%-35.34% higher yields than those at SM salinity. The results are of great importance for the nutrient and water management in cotton field in the arid saline area.