Soil applied boron (B) improves growth, yield and fiber quality traits of cotton grown on calcareous saline soil

Abstract

Boron (B) is required during all growth stages of cotton crop, especially during boll formation. However, Typic Haplocambid soils of cotton growing belt in Pakistan are B-deficient, which results in low yield and economic returns. Foliar application of B improves cotton productivity; however, information is limited on the role of soil applied B in improving cotton growth and yield. The current study investigated the role of soil applied B in improving growth, yield and fiber quality of cotton crop. Five different B doses (i.e., 0.00, 2.60, 5.52, 7.78 and 10.04 mg kg -1 of soil) and two cotton cultivars (i.e., CIM-600 and CIM-616) were included in the study. Soil applied B (2.60 mg kg -1 ) significantly improved growth, yield, physiological parameters and fiber quality, while 10.04 mg kg -1 application improved B distribution in roots, seeds, leaves and stalks. Significant improvement was noted in plant height (12%), leaf area (3%), number of bolls (48%), boll size (59%), boll weight (52%), seed cotton yield (52%), photosynthesis (50%), transpiration rate (10%), stomatal conductance (37%) and water use efficiency (44%) of CIM-600 with 2.60 mg kg -1 compared to control treatment of CIM-616. Similarly, B accumulation in roots, seeds, leaves and stalk of CIM-600 was improved by 76, 41, 86 and 70%, respectively compared to control treatment. The application of 2.60 mg kg -1 significantly improved ginning out turn (6%), staple length (3.5%), fiber fineness (17%) and fiber strength (5%) than no B application. The results indicated that cultivar CIM-600 had higher ginning out turn (1.5%), staple length (5.4%), fiber fineness (15.5%) and fiber strength (1.8%) than CIM-616. In crux, 2.60 mg kg -1 soil B application improved growth, yield, physiological and fiber quality traits of cotton cultivar CIM-600. Therefore, cultivar CIM-600 and 2.60 mg kg -1 soil B application is recommended for higher yield and productivity.

Soil application of boron impacts its solubility, yield and fibre quality of cotton in calcareous soils of North-western India

“…With further surge in boron application 0 rate, the augmentation in seed cotton yield stayed statistically similar with preceding application rates. Similar findings were also reported in earlier research(Atique-ur-Rehman et al, 2020;…”

“…Boron is conveyed from the roots to the shoot via xylem by mass flow under power of transpiration tug (Kochian, 1991) and amasses higher quantity of B at the tips and margins of older leaves than in other parts of plant. These outcomes are in compliance to earlier research findings that showed that increased B concentration was ascribed to enhance absorption of soil applied B, and its accumulation in different vegetative plant parts under influence of transpiration tug (Boparai and Manchanda, 2019;Atique-ur-Rehman et al, 2020). The non-uniform allocation of B among different parts of cotton in our experimental outcomes has been ascribed to its immobile nature or very limited mobility in phloem of cotton (Gormus and Barutcular, 2016;Boparai and Manchanda, 2019).…”

“…These quality traits did not differ appreciably with B application from two sources. The mean uniformity ratio varied between 44.6 and 47.0%, and exhibited a significant increase with B application under B by These results are in compliance with a previous study showing a significant linear relationship between B application and lint characteristics influencing its quality (Rahman et al, 2018;Atique-ur-Rehman et al, 2020).…”

The impact of boron seed priming on seedling establishment, growth, and grain biofortification of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in yermosols

“…Our results buoyed the hypothesis that seed priming with B can improve seedling emergence, growth and development, grain yield and related traits, grains B concentration and grain quality of mungbean (Tables 1 – 3 and Figs 1 – 4 ). Boron deficiency is growing and creating a stern problem in calcareous soils (hyperthermic, sodic haplocambids) [ 6 ]. Application of B seed priming @ 0.01% significantly (p≤0.05) improved the growth and yield-related characteristics of tested mungbean cultivars.…”

“…A careful diagnosis is indebted to a narrow range for B deficiency and its toxicity for all crops [ 5 , 6 ]; therefore, its application amount/concentration is very critical. However, B-deficiency could be corrected in several ways.…”