Potassium Nutrition Effects on Lint Yield and Fiber Quality of Acala Cotton

Abstract

Although results from in vitro ovule culture studies have demonstrated a specific K requirement for fiber growth, a direct association between the K status of the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plant and fiber quality has not been established under field conditions. To evaluate this relationship, a single cultivar (1985) and two cultivars (1986 and 1987) were grown with 0, 120, 240, or 480 kg K ha‐1 in 10 blocked replicates of each K level on an irrigated, vermiculitic soil. There was a significant seed‐cotton yield response to applied K in each year. Lint yield, however, increased relatively more than seed yield, resulting in a greater lint percentage as plant K supply increased. The greater lint percentage reflected increased fiber length and secondary wall thickness (measured as a micronaire index) obtained from plants that received fertilizer K. For both cultivars, the fiber length, micronaire index, fiber strength and percent elongation, and fiber length uniformity ratio (dependent variables) were each positively related to (i) fiber K concentration at maturity, (ii) leaf K concentration at early bloom, and (iii) an index of soil K availability as independent variables in regression analyses. Comparison of cultivar regressions, however, indicated that fiber quality of ‘Acala GC510’ was higher than that of ‘Acala SJ2’ at low fiber, leaf, or soil K levels. We conclude that K supply to cotton fruit is an important determinant of fiber quality under field conditions, and that the K requirement for producing high lint yield with acceptable quality may differ among genotypes.

Optimizing yield and fiber quality of cotton under mediterranean environment: managing nitrogen and potassium nutrition

“…No significant effect of potassium fertilizer was reported on gin turnout at both years. In this respect, findings of present study are contradictory to the findings of Cassman et al (1990) and Pettigrew (1999) those who reported a significant improvement in gin turnout on the application of potassium fertilizer.…”

“…Results (except for micronaire) of present study were generally inconsistent with previous reports (Cassman et al, 1990;Pettigrew, 1999) those who reported a significant effect of K fertilization on lint quality. Fiber length and strength were significantly lower for the plots without nitrogen application as compared to the plots treated with nitrogen.…”

The potassium paradox: Implications for soil fertility, crop production and human health

“…The use of KCl can also have a beneficial effect by increasing the fiber strength (micronaire) of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on soils inherently limited in K reserves [222][223][224]226 , which would be expected considering the lack of a dense rooting system or residue K inputs.…”

Effect of pre-sowing Application of Nitrogen, Potassium and Sulfur and its relationship on Egyptian Cotton Productivity

“…In this respect, Twolde et al (2005) found that fiber strength and fiber fineness were significantly increased by foliar application with some macro elements. The data obtained from Table ( 6) show that a significant effect of all treatments on relations between N:K , N:S , Lint% and seed cotton yield/fed .Data observed that the Mixture treatment had gaven a highest values of N:K which reflected on a Lint% and seed cotton yield/fed . they were ( 42.12 & 43.37 ) for lint% and ( 9.75 & 10.00 ) for seed cotton yield/fed at the first and second season , respectively .…”