The Role of Boron in the Vegetative Growth Characteristics of Several Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Cultivars

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the summer season of 2023 in the Al-Hamadiyah area, at the Agricultural Research Station / College of Agriculture, within the latitude (22.44) and longitude (43.39), in sandy loam soil, to study the growth and productivity of four cotton cultivars under the influence of boron spraying. A randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) was used with three replications, in a split plot arrangement, where four concentrations of boron (0, 40, 80, 120) mg L-1, occupied the main plots, while the sub-plots included four cotton cultivars (Coker 310, Spearo, Montana, W888). The results indicate that the cultivar Spearo exhibited the lowest average number of nodes for the first fruiting branch on the main stem and the earliest number of days from planting to flowering, at 5.41 node and 63.39 days respectively. The cultivar Montana surpassed with the highest average leaf chlorophyll content of 28.05 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight. The cultivar Coker 310 excelled with the highest average plant height, number of vegetative branches, and number of fruiting branches, at 165.11 cm, 3.46 branches plant-1, and 13.06 branches plant-1, respectively.