Foliar boron application affects lint and seed yield and improves seed quality of cotton grown on calcareous soils

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is one of the most important fiber crops worldwide because of the good fiber quality, high yield, and high adaptability. Cotton has high requirements for B and many times B is applied to correct B deficiency. Despite the fact that B is important for cotton the effect of foliar applications on seed yield and seed quality was not adequately determined and especially when cotton is grown on calcareous soils. A field study was conducted to determine if foliar B application during anthesis increases seed set, lint yield, seed yield, yield components and improves seed quality of cotton grown on calcareous soils. Boron solutions were applied at four rates (0, 400, 800 and 1,200 mg l -1 of B) to field plots exhibiting no vegetative symptoms of B deficiency. Foliar B application increased the number of bolls per plant, the number of bolls per square meter, the mean boll weight, the lint and the seed yield. Cotton yield was increased by an average of 40% over the two locations with B application compared with the control. However, there was no significant difference between the three rates of B. The number of bolls per plant increased by an average of 29% and the number of bolls per square meter increased by an average of 29% with B application in both locations compared with the control treatment. Also foliar application of B improved seed germination by an average of 17% and increased seed vigor determined as accelerated aging (AA) by an average of 25% compared with the control treatment in both locations. The results obtained here suggest that foliar B application can improve the lint and seed yield and seed quality of cotton grown on calcareous soils.

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

“…Although cotton is conceived as well adapted to a wide range of soils and growing conditions, it is quite sensitive to B deficiency. In cotton, its deficiency causes stunted growth, reduced carbon assimilation and translocation, poor fruit retention, reduced yield, and poor quality (Zhao and Oosterhuis, 2002;Dordas, 2006).…”

Influence of Soil Applied Boron on the Boll Retention, Productivity and Economic Returns of Different Cotton Genotypes

“…Boron deficiency in cotton affects both vegetative and reproductive growth. During the vegetative stage, B deficiency may lead to the retardation of growth, death of growing meristems and inhibition of vascular bundle development (Goldbach et al, 2007), while its deficiency during reproductive phase may cause poor flowers/fruits development (Asad et al, 2002) and poor boll retention (Dordas, 2006). As B helps in the transport of sugars and nutrients from leaves to fruits (Siddiky et al, 2007), cotton specifically requires an adequate supply of B especially during the boll development to harvest good yield.…”

Effect of Graded Levels of Zinc and Boron on Growth, Yield and Chemical Properties of Soils under Paddy

“…Application of Zn and B, when used alone as well as when applied in combination, resulted in significantly higher grain and straw yields than the control. The beneficial effect of B on enhancement of crop yield has been reported by Sharma (1995), Christos Dordas (2006) and Raghuveer Rao et al, (2013). Similarly, the favorable effect of Zn on yield of different crops has also been well documented (Das, 1992, Subrahmaniyan et al, 2001and Bagewadi et al, 2003.…”