In this 2-year study, researchers investigated how different amounts and timing of watering affected soil moisture and water use when growing cotton with drip irrigation in Northern Xinjiang. They found that giving 375mm of water and watering every 7 or 10 days helped evenly distribute water in the soil. Watering too often didn't reach deep soil layers, while waiting too long made the surface dry. More water meant wetter soil, but using too much water didn't increase crops' yields and wasted water. Cotton plants used less water when they were young, used the most during the flowering stage, and then needed less as they matured. The researchers recommended giving 375mm of water every 7-10 days to efficiently grow cotton in this area.