Effect of Foliar Application with Micronutrients under Different Fertilizer Levels on Cotton Cultivar Giza 94

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out in Sakha Agricultural Research Station at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, during the growing seasons 2016 and 2017 to study the effect of foliar application with micronutrients under different NPK fertilizer levels on growth, earliness, yield and its components and fiber traits of cotton on the cotton cultivar (Giza 94) belonging to (Gossypium barbadense, L). Each experiment was laid out in a split plot design with four replications. The main plots were allocated to three NPK fertilizer levels i.e., (60 kg N + 37.5 kg P 2 O 5 + 48 kg K 2 O/fad.), (45 kg N + 22.5 kg P 2 O 5 + 36 kg K 2 O/fad.), (30 kg N + 15 kg P 2 O 5 + 24 kg K 2 O/fad.). The sub-plots had to six rates of micronutrients, (without, zinc, iron, calcium, manganese, zinc+iron+ calcium+ manganese). Foliar spraying three times (at squaring, initiation of flowering and two weeks after flowering). The obtained results were as follows:1-The levels of NPK had significant effect on plant height, some earliness parameters, number of open bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield. While, did not exhibit significant effect on lint percentage and seed index under study in both seasons. 2-The micronutrients had significant effect on growth, some earliness parameters, number of open bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield/fad. But, had insignificant effect on lint percentage and seed index in both seasons.3-The interaction between treatments had significant effect on plant height, days to the first flower an earliness percentage in 2016 and 2017 seasons. But, insignificantly affected first sympodial node, number of open bolls/plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield/feddan, lint percentage and seed index in both seasons.3-The levels of NPK, micronutrients and interaction between them had a not significant effect on all fiber properties. Therefore, it could be concluded that the highest seed cotton yield/fad. of cotton (Giza 94) was obtained from the high NPK fertilizer level (60 kg N + 37.5 kg P 2 O 5 + 48 kg K 2 O/fad.) and foliar application with micronutrients fertilizer (Zinc+ Iron+ Calcium+Manganese) three times at squaring, initiation of flowering and two weeks after flowering.

Physiological Role of Nutrient Consortium for Improving the Yield in Cotton

“…Significant raise in plant height was observed by the application of boron and zinc which might be due auxin biosynthesis leading to cell elongation [12]. It also has been reported that high levels of NPK and different micronutrients played a significant role in plant height [13].…”