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<p>Cotton yields in Xinjiang, China, have soared through three generations of cultivation technology centered on plastic film mulching. While this technological intensification has been successful, it has also led to a severe residual plastic film (RPF) pollution crisis. Rather than simply contrasting the productivity-oriented perspective of Feng et al. with the pollution-oriented perspective of Zhou et al., this comment proposes a forward-looking conceptual framework for a “fourth-generation” cotton cultivation system in Xinjiang, in which high productivity is coordinated with environmental sustainability, resource-use efficiency, and economic feasibility. We argue that, although RPF accumulation is a serious and growing concern, its field-scale dynamics and yield effects may be more management-dependent than a simple linear accumulation narrative implies. The future lies in a multi-objective approach, necessitating a fourth-generation system that integrates smart biodegradable mulches, digital agriculture, and circular economy principles for synergistic productivity, sustainability, and economic viability.</p>

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Evolving cotton cultivation in Xinjiang: balancing high yield with environmental sustainability

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月16日

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  • Zhang Yanjun,
  • Zhang Dongmei,
  • Dong Hezhong

摘要

Cotton yields in Xinjiang, China, have soared through three generations of cultivation technology centered on plastic film mulching. While this technological intensification has been successful, it has also led to a severe residual plastic film (RPF) pollution crisis. Rather than simply contrasting the productivity-oriented perspective of Feng et al. with the pollution-oriented perspective of Zhou et al., this comment proposes a forward-looking conceptual framework for a “fourth-generation” cotton cultivation system in Xinjiang, in which high productivity is coordinated with environmental sustainability, resource-use efficiency, and economic feasibility. We argue that, although RPF accumulation is a serious and growing concern, its field-scale dynamics and yield effects may be more management-dependent than a simple linear accumulation narrative implies. The future lies in a multi-objective approach, necessitating a fourth-generation system that integrates smart biodegradable mulches, digital agriculture, and circular economy principles for synergistic productivity, sustainability, and economic viability.