Effect of Water Stress and Foliar Feeding With Boron and Zinc Under NPK Fertilizer Levels on Growth and Yield of the New Promising Cotton Genotype (Giza 86 X 10229)

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, on new promising cotton genotype (Giza 86 X 10229) during 2013 and 2014 seasons to study the effect of water stress and foliar feeding with boron and zinc under NPK fertilizer levels on growth, earliness, yield, yield components and some fiber quality. Each experiment was laid out in a split split-plot design with four replications. The main plots involved three irrigation intervals (two weeks, three weeks and four weeks) throughout the growing season. The sub-plots were allocated to three NPK levels (60 kg N + 22.5 kg P 2 O 5 + 24 kg K 2 O/fed; 75 kg N + 30 kg P 2 O 5 + 36 kg K 2 O/fed and 90 kg N + 37.5 kg P 2 O 5 + 48 kg K 2 O/fed ) The sub sub-plots involved four foliar feeding treatments with boron and zinc(control (without foliar application), foliar application of Zn-EDTA, foliar application of B-EDTA. and foliar application of Zn-EDTA + B-EDTA). The timing of foliar applications were at the start and peak of flowering stages.The most important results obtained could be summarized as follows: 1) The obtained results revealed that increasing irrigation intervals to four weeks significantly decreased days to first flower, plant height at harvest, no. of fruiting branches/plant, no. of open bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield/fed. in both seasons and days to first open boll in one season only. While, irrigation intervals did not exhibit significant effect on no. of monopodia/plant, first fruiting node, earliness %, seed index, lint presenting and fiber properties under study. 2) The obtained results revealed that the high NPK fertilizer level (90 kg N + 37.5 kg P 2 O 5 + 48 kg K 2 O/fed.) significantly increased first fruiting node, days to first flower and first open boll, plant height at harvest, no. of fruiting branches/plant, no. of open bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield/fed and significantly decreased earliness % in both seasons and did not exhibit significant effect on no. of monopodia/plant, seed index, lint presenting and fiber properties under study in both seasons. 3) The obtained results revealed that foliar feeding with boron and zinc mixture significantly increased no. of fruiting branches/plant, no. of open bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield/fed. While, micronutrients treatments did not exhibit significant effect on plant height at harvest, no. of monopodia/plant, first fruiting node, days to first flower and first open boll, earliness %, seed index, lint presenting and fiber properties under study in both seasons. 4) The interaction between irrigation intervals and NPK fertilizer levels significantly affected days to first flower, plant height at harvest, earliness%, no. of open bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield/fed in both seasons and no. of fruiting branches/plant in one season only and did not exhibit significant effect on first fruiting node, days to first open boll, seed index, lint presenting and fiber properties under study i...

The Physiological Response of Some Cotton Cultivars to Water Stress and Growth Inducers

“…The reduction in cotton plant growth and metabolism was reflected by the lack of nutrients and cellulose to boll due to increased boll shedding and decreased cotton yield productivity compared to normal irrigation plants in both seasons (Table 9). A similar trend was indicated by Hamoda (2012) and Emara et al (2015), who showed that water-deficit conditions reduce stomatal conductance to water and CO 2 , the main reason for the decreased photosynthesis rate and plant growth and reduced cotton productivity. Also, Gomaa et al (2019) and Zaki & Radwan (2022) concluded that drought stress affects cotton plant hormonal imbalance (ABA), reducing plant growth and productivity.…”

“…In contrast, the favorable effects of Ca in cotton yield components might be attributed to the important role in enhancing photosynthesis and maintaining turgor under drought stress conditions. Ca improves the water status of plants by enhancing the stability of membranes and protecting them from ROS-damaging effects (Emara et al, 2015;Ibrahim et al, 2016;More et al, 2018;Naeem et al, 2018). Ca acts as an anti-drought signaling response by participating in ABA-induced drought signal transduction, which enhances water use efficiency and opposes drought tolerance.…”

“…Hamoda (2012) pointed out that irrigation interval every 3 weeks cause a significant reduction in plant height, number of fruiting branches, number of open bolls/plant and seed cotton yield. Emara et al (2015) and Gomaa et al (2019) demonstrated that drought conditions during plant growth and fruit retention are due to a significant reduction in cotton yield and fiber quality properties. Calcium (Ca) and boron (B) are essential nutrient elements for cotton plant growth and development and partake in different physiological processes.…”

“…Besides, B accelerates tissue growth and development, enhances tissue conduction and storage, and helps in the translocation of sugars and nutrients (Eleyan et al, 2014;Rahman et al, 2018). Cotton plants need B during flowering and boll development stages; B stimulates pollen germination and pollen tube growth and causes successful fruit setting (Emara et al, 2015). More et al (2018) revealed the positive effects of spraying with B on growth, fruit retention, and yield components of cotton.…”

Genetic regulation of nitrogen use efficiency in Gossypium spp

“…For instance, 120 and 150 kg ha −1 N supports a significant increase in plant height (Hallikeri et al, 2010; Kumbhar et al, 2008), and a high number of cotton nodes is achievable with 225 kg ha −1 of N application (Alitabar et al, 2013). At the same time, the mean internode length is also reported to be affected by the N uptake rate between 0 and 40 kg ha −1 (Emara & El‐Gammaal, 2012). In contrast, studies on N distribution in different parts of cotton during the vegetative growth periods propose efficient utilisation of N at lower rates of 84 kg ha −1 .…”