Boron Requirement of Irrigated Cotton in a Typic Haplocambid for Optimum Productivity and Seed Composition

Abstract

Boron (B) deficiency hampers cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.) growth and productivity globally, especially in calcareous soils. The crop is known as a heavy feeder of B; however, its reported plant analysis diagnostic norms for B-deficiency diagnosis vary drastically. In a 2-year field experiment on a B-deficient [hydrochloric acid (HCl)-extractable 0.47 mg B kg −1 ], calcareous, Typic Haplocambid, we studied the impact of soil-applied B on cotton (cv. CIM-473) growth, productivity, plant tissue B concentration, and seed oil composition. Boron was applied at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kg B ha −1 , as borax (Na 2 B 4 O 7 ·10H 2 O), in a randomized complete block design with four replications, along with recommended rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn). Boron use improved crop growth, decreased fruit shedding, and increased boll weight, leading to seed cotton yield increases up to 14.7% (P < 0.05). Improved B nutrition of plants also enhanced seed oil content (P < 0.05) and increased seed protein content (P < 0.05). Fiber quality was not affected. Fertilizer B use was highly cost-effective, with a value-cost ratio of 12.3:1 at 1 kg B ha −1 . Fertilizer B requirement for near-maximum (95% of maximum) seed cotton yield was 1.1 kg B ha −1 and HCl-extractable soil B requirement for was 0.52 kg ha −1 . Leaf tissue B requirement varied with leaf age as well as with plant age. In 30-day plants (i.e., at squaring), B-deficiency diagnosis critical level was 45.0 mg kg −1 in recently matured leaves and 38.0 mg kg −1 in youngest open leaves; at 60 days old (i.e., at flowering), critical concentration was 55.0 mg kg −1 in mature leaves and 43.0 mg kg −1 in youngest leaves. With advancement in plant age critical B concentration decreased in both leaf tissues; that is, in 90-day-old plants (i.e., at boll formation) it was 43.0 mg kg −1 in mature leaves and 35.0 mg kg −1 in the youngest leaves. As critical concentration range was narrower in youngest leaves (i.e., 35-43 mg kg −1 ) compared with mature leaves (i.e., 43-55 mg kg −1 ), B concentration in youngest leaves is considered a better indicator for deficiency diagnosis.

Silicon mitigates boron deficiency and toxicity in cotton cultivated in nutrient solution

“…Boron (B) deficiency causes significant losses in cotton production (Ahmed et al, 2013;Bogiani et al, 2014), with crops responding favorably to B fertilization (Bellaloui et al, 2015). Despite a certain resistance to B toxicity in cotton (Ahmed et al, 2008), plant development may also be compromised when grown under high B concentrations (Ahmed et al, 2013).…”

Water Stress and Foliar Boron Application Altered Cell Wall Boron and Seed Nutrition in Near-Isogenic Cotton Lines Expressing Fuzzy and Fuzzless Seed Phenotypes

“…Cotton has a high B requirement, partially, due to the inherently limited B mobility within cotton plants. Although B was shown to affect yield and seed and fiber quality in cotton, its effects on seed nutrition have not been well investigated [ 3 , 15 , 16 ], especially under water stress [ 3 , 16 ]. It was reported that a level of <20 mg kg -1 is considered deficient level and the range between 20 and 80 mg kg -1 is sufficient.…”

“…Therefore, the adequacy range of B in plant tissue is not clearly defined and difficult to interpret [ 15 ]. This complexity of B status in tissue may have led to report that B can be deficient in a number of crops and have significant effect on yield [ 15 , 16 ] and quality [ 15 , 16 ] even when there are no vegetative signs of deficiency and even when B concentration in soil is present at the adequate range [ 15 , 20 , 21 ]. Environmental factors (soil moisture, soil texture, and soil reaction) [ 22 , 23 ], species and cultivar [ 24 ], and cell wall composition that affect B uptake and requirement is also another source of variability determining B nutritional status of cotton plants.…”

Comparative Productivity and Seed Nutrition of Cotton by Plant Growth Regulation under Deficient and Adequate Boron Conditions

“…Boron is essential for growth and development, and its deficiency negatively affects the yield and seed nutritional quality of cotton (Ahmed et al, 2011;Ahmed et al, 2013). Boron affects cottonseed composition and nutritional quality through the modulation in uptake and translocation of other nutrients as well (Ahmed et al, 2011;Bellaloui et al, 2015).…”