Microsoft Word - 5-Agra_36925
302
Original Article
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS ON
GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF COTTON (Gossypium hirsutum L.) CROP
EFEITO DA APLICAÇÃO EXÓGENA DE MICRONUTRIENTES NO CRESCIMENTO E
PRODUTIVIDADE DA CULTURA DE ALGODÃO (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Fahad AJMAL
1
; Muhammad AKRAM
2
*; Rana Muhammad IQBAL
3
; Mubshar HUSSAIN
4
;
Muhammad Waqar HASSAN
3
; Muhammad ABDULLAH
1
; Allah WASAYA
5
1. Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 2. Department of Environmental Sciences,
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari Pakistan; 3. University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The
Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan; 4. Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan Pakistan, 5. College of
Agriculture, Sub Campus Bahadur Layyah, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan.* akramcp@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Micronutrients play a vital role in the growth and productivity of cotton crop. A study was carried out
to access the exogenous application of micronutrients on growth and yield of cotton crop. The experiment was comprised of
nine treatments as T0 (control), T1 (Fe chelated), T2 (B), T3 (Mo), T4 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4), T5 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 +
Fe chelated), T6 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + B), T7 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Mo) and T8 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Fe
chelated + B). Data on different growth attributes showed that there was significant positive increase with the application of
micronutrients. Leaf area was increased after applying micronutrients at 99 days after sowing (DAS) and then a decreasing
trend was observed. Chlorophyll contents were increased at 81 DAS and then decreased towards the final harvest. Similarly,
different yield components showed that seed cotton yield were significantly increased with the application of Fe, B, Mo, Zn,
Cu and Mn compared to control treatment. Earliness index, mean maturity date and production rate index were increased
significantly after combined use of foliar spray of Zn, Cu, Mn and Mo.
KEYWORDS: Growth. Yield. Micronutrients. Cotton.
INTRODUCTION
Micronutrients are very essential and their soil
application of Zn, B, Fe, Mn, and Cu particularly on
calcareous soils is less efficient, as these nutrients
remain unavailable to plant roots due to the higher pH
of these soils (SAJID et al., 2008). Another approach
under such conditions is foliar application of nutrients
(RAB; HAQ, 2012) primarily for two reasons. First, it
reduces the effects of soil pH on the availability of
these nutrients (ALI, 2012) and secondly, it is more
efficient and less costly (ALI et al., 2007). The foliar
application of nutrients has gained significant interest
for agricultural scientist throughout the world as it is
successful and cost-effective technology (ALI, 2012;
LIEW et al., 2012).
Micronutrients are essential for normal
growth and development of plants as zinc is necessary
for plants in some of their enzymatic systems.
Manganese play role in oxidation reduction reactions
in plants especially with iron and nitrogen metabolism
as the iron is essential for chlorophyll formation
(ABRO et al., 2004). Micronutrients are vital for
improvement of both qualitative and quantitative yield
in oil seed crop (BAHRANI; POURREZA, 2014).
Foliar application of growth regulators and
micronutrients are effective when they were sprayed
alone, as boron application increased the seed cotton
yield (DONG, 1995; HALLIKERI et al., 2002). Boron
is an essential micronutrient for higher plants whose
deficiency affects the meristematic development,
resulting in stunted growth (MARSCHNER, 1995).
Application of zinc to cotton crop promotes boll
retention and consequently increases the seed cotton
yield (MANGAL; PRASAD, 1998).
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), also known
as queen of fibre, is the leading fibre crop of the world
and is grown over an area of 3106 thousand hectares,
with a production of 12968 thousand bales and
average yield of 695 kg per hectare in the year of
2009 to 2010. Cotton is the main cash crop of
Pakistan and is grown primarily both for fiber and
oilseed. According to annual report of ECONOMIC
SURVEY OF PAKISTAN (2009-2010) the cotton
production was estimated 12.7 million bales for 2009
to 2010, higher by 7.4% over the last year’s
production of 11.8 million bales. During these years,
cotton contributes 8.6% of the value added in
agriculture and approximately 1.8% in GDP.
Received: 12/06/17
Accepted: 05/12/17
303
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
Keeping in view the role of nutrients in
improving the yield of crops, the foliar application of
micronutrients has been emphasized these days. Since
little information is available on application of
micronutrients through foliar sprays and consequently
their effect on morphology and yield of cotton, hence,
the present study was carried out to evaluate the effect
of micronutrients as growth regulator and to
determine their effect on growth and yield of cotton
crop.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
An experiment was conducted to study the
foliar application of micronutrients on the growth and
yield of cotton at Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies,
Baghdad-ul-Jadeed Campus, The Islamia University
of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during the year 2010-11.
The experiment was laid out in randomized complete
block design and there were three replications of each
treatment.
The experiment was comprised of nine
treatments as T0 (control), T1 (Fe chelated), T2 (B), T3
(Mo), T4 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4), T5 (CuSo4 +
ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Fe chelated), T6 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 +
MnSo4 + B), T7 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Mo), T8
(CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Fe chelated) + B). Copper
sulphate, zinc sulphste and manganese sulphate were
applied as a source of Cu, Zn and Mn. One percent
solution of each micronutrient was applied regularly
at 20 days intervals. The seed rate used was 25 kg per
hectare and fertilizers (75 kg N, 30 kg P2O5 and 50 kg
K2O/ha) was applied at regular intervals of 20 days.
Data on growth and yield parameters were recorded
from 5 randomly selected plants in each treatment plot
measuring 36.45 m
2
(having 78 plants in 6 rows with
67.5 × 75 cm geometry). Seed cotton yield (kg/ha)
was calculated from whole plot. All other
recommended production and protection practices
were uniformly applied. Weeding was performed after
regular intervals of 10 days and irrigation was
performed by canal water at 15 days interval.
The data on different growth components as
plant height was measured with the help of scale from
the ground surface to the plant terminal. Number of
leaves was taken by counting the total number of
leaves of four tagged plants in each plot, and then
average of these four tagged plants was calculated.
Number of nodes present on the main stem of the four
tagged plants was counted, and average was worked
out. Leaf area was determined by leaf area meter and
chlorophyll contents in plant leaf were estimated by
chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502 value). Number of
bolls of tagged plant was also counted regularly and
then average was taken. Earliness index was
calculated with the help of following formula as
proposed by Singh (2003).
Weight of seed cotton from first pick
Earliness Index (%) =
Total seed cotton weight from all picks
Mean maturity date in cotton was calculated by the
formula as proposed by Christidis and Harrison
(1955).
(W 1 × H1) + (W2 × H2) + ………. + (Wn × Hn)
Mean Maturity Date (MMD) =
W1 + W 2 +……..+ Wn
Where W = weight of seed cotton, H = number of
days from planting to harvest, 1, 2…n = consecutive
periodic harvest number.
Saleem et al. (2010) calculated that production rate
index was calculated from total seed cotton weight
divided by the mean maturity date.
Total seed cotton weight (g)
Production Rate Index (g/day) =
Mean maturity date (day)
Statistical analysis
Data collected during the course of study were
statistically analyzed using
MSTAT-C programme (ANONYMOUS, 1986) for
analysis of variance and significant means were
separated using least significant difference test (LSD)
at 5% probability level (STEEL et al., 1997).
Regression and correlation analysis was performed
using MS Excel program against different variables.
RESULTS
Highest plant height (86.25 cm) was recorded
at 117 days after sowing (DAS) in T8 treatment (Fe +
B + Mo + Zn + Cu + Mn), which was closely
followed by T7, T6 and lowest (63.83 cm) was
recorded in control, where no micronutrient was
applied (Table 1). Number of leaves in all the
treatments continued to increase from 45 DAS up to
108 DAS and then gradually declined towards the
final harvest. At 108 days of sowing, highest number
of leaves (60.33) was recorded in T6 treatment, while
lowest number of leaves (42.83) was recorded in
control (Table 2).
304
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
At 72 DAS, treatment T5 attained the highest
number of nodes (14) and in control lowest number of
nodes (11.25) was recorded. After 108 DAS, highest
number of nodes per plant (15.69) was produced
under the application of T8 treatment and control had
the lowest number of nodes i.e. 13.65 (Table 3). The
treatment T8 (Fe + B + Mo + Zn + Cu + Mn)
contributed to the maximum leaf area i.e. 55.55 cm
2
,
and in control (no treatment) showed the minimum
leaf area as 44.25 cm
2
, at 99 DAS (Table 4). Highest
leaf area (50.8 cm
2
) was attained by treatment T8
while least (39.13 cm
2
) was recorded in control where
no micronutrient was applied at 108 DAS (Table 4).
The Chlorophyll content in all the treatments
continued to increase from 45 to 81 DAS, and then
gradually declined towards the final harvest. There
was significant variation (p<0.05) in chlorophyll
contents (SPAD-value) from 54 DAS to onward and
at 81 DAS it ranged from 49.35 to 56.77 in control
and T8 treatment (Fe + B + Mo + Zn + Cu + Mn)
respectively (Table 5). Data regarding number of bolls
per plant, indicate that maximum number of bolls
(9.83) was recorded in T8 treatment (Fe + B + Mo +
Zn + Cu + Mn), which was closely followed by T6
(Cu + Zn + Mn + B). The minimum number of bolls
per plant (5.17) was recorded in control where no
micronutrient was applied. Treatment T8 (Fe + B +
Mo + Zn + Cu + Mn) yielded the highest number of
bolls per plant (9.83) and control treatment had the
lowest value (Table 6).
Number of cotton seed per boll increase
significantly and in treatment T8 there was 34.63%
increase was recorded comparative to control. Seed
cotton yield was highest (2900 kg/ha) in T8 treatment
(Fe + B + Mo + Zn + Cu + Mn) and lowest (2366
kg/ha) in control (T0) where micronutrient was not
applied (Table 7); however, earliness index was
minimum (65.50) in T6 treatment (B + Zn + Cu + Mn)
and maximum (66.74) in control treatment (Table 3).
Furthermore, mean maturity date was maximum
(160.25) in T6 treatment (B + Zn + Cu + Mn) and
minimum (159.99) in T0 (control). Treatment T8 had
mean maturity date of 160.22, T7 of 160.18, T5 of
160.18 and in T4 was 160.08 (Table 7). Production
rate index calculated in treatment T7 was 32.92 while
in T6; T4 treatment was 31.70 and 30.61 respectively.
Analyzed data (Table 7) indicates that production rate
index was maximum (33.64) in T8 treatment (Fe + B +
Mo + Zn + Cu + Mn) which was statistically at par
with T7 treatment and minimum (27.48) in T0
(control) where micronutrient was not applied.
Linear regression and correlation analysis
Regression analysis suggests the significant
dependence of seed cotton yield on plant height (R
2
=
0.87; p≤0.01). Correlation analysis also indicated a
positive and linear relationship between plant height
and seed cotton yield. Significant positive correlation
was noted between number of leaves per plant and
seed cotton yield (r = 0.94; p≤0.01) and regression
analysis suggests the significant dependence of seed
cotton yield on number of leaves per plant. Regression
analysis also depicts the significant dependence of
seed cotton yield on number of bolls per plant (R
2
=
0.82; p≤0.01) (Table 8).
305
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
Table 1. Effect of different micronutrients on plant height (cm) in cotton
Treatment 45 DAS 54 DAS 63 DAS 72 DAS 81 DAS 90 DAS 99 DAS 108 DAS 117 DAS
T0 20.33 24.33 c 29.17 c 32.08 e 42.08 d 48.42 d 55.58 c 59.00 e 63.83 d
T1 23.83 28.25 b 34.75 b 36.25 de 48.83 bcd 55.25 bcd 61.00 bc 65.42 de 69.42 cd
T2 22.58 29.50 b 37.08 b 43.50 b 51.58 bc 57.75 abc 65.17 abc 68.08 bced 70.58 cd
T3 22.78 29.17 b 38.42 b 41.67 bc 47.08 cd 53.42 cd 60.42 bc 67.42 cde 74.42 abcd
T4 22.08 30.42 b 37.17 b 38.08 cd 50.33 bc 60.58 abc 69.92 ab 73.75 abcd 77.92 abc
T5 24.08 29.58 b 36.58 b 42.33 bc 52.25 bc 56.92 abcd 63.50 abc 68.67 abcde 74.08 bcd
T6 25.08 28.58 b 37.67 b 41.17 bc 55.50 ab 64.08 ab 73.67 a 79.58 ab 83.92 ab
T7
24.08 28.50 b 38.33 b 41.67 bc 55.17 ab 63.42 ab 72.25 ab 79.08 abc 85.33 ab
T8 27.25 34.92 a 44.67 a 48.50 a 60.08 a 65.75 a 73.33 a 80.25 a 86.25 a
LSD at 5% NS 2.79 4.023 4.686 7.799 9.108 12.08 11.8 11.87
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant; DAS: Days after sowing; T0 = Control, T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4
= CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 ; + MnSO4 + B, T7 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo.
Table 2. Effect of different micronutrients on number of leaves per plant in cotton
Treatment 45 DAS 54 DAS 63 DAS 72 DAS 81 DAS 90 DAS 99 DAS 108 DAS 117 DAS
T0 14.50 20.25 d 20.25 24.42 d 27.25 33.58 c 39.33 e 42.83 bc 34.67
T1
15.17 22.08 cd 24.75 27.25 cd 33.67 38.50 bc 42.75 de 46.50 c 41.00
T2
15.17 24.08 bc 27.58 31.00 abc 35.92 40.75 ab 44.67 cde 46.08 bc 42.50
T3
15.83 22.33 cd 25.75 27.17 cd 32.75 39.67 abc 46.00 cd 48.08 abc 46.25
T4
16.08 26.25 a 26.75 31.92 ab 33.00 41.83 ab 47.42 abcd 50.67 abc 47.17
T5
15.83 23.17 c 23.92 29.33 bc 33.08 38.00 bc 46.17 bcd 51.00 a 49.42
T6
13.75 22.58 c 25.00 31.27 abc 34.75 43.50 ab 53.00 a 60.33 ab 60.50
T7
15.25 23.67 c 28.00 33.42 ab 36.00 44.08 ab 50.92 abc 56.50 a 59.00
T8 14.92 25.83 ab 25.42 34.50 a 39.50 45.83 a 52.58 ab 59.08 d 62.17
LSD at 5% NS 2.109 NS 4.548 NS 6.201 6.444 10.12 NS
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant; DAS: Days after sowing; T0 = Control, T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4
= CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4 + ; ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + B, T7 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo.
306
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
Table 3. Effect of different micronutrients on number of nodes per plant in cotton
Treatment 45 DAS 54 DAS 63 DAS 72 DAS 81 DAS 90 DAS 99 DAS 108 DAS 117 DAS
T0 6.00 9.25 10.75 c 11.25 f 12.33 c 13.58 d 13.58 13.58 e 13.58
T1 8.75 9.92 11.17 c 12.17 de 13.50 b 14.58 cd 14.58 14.58 de 14.58
T2 7.67 10.00 11.42 abc 12.67 cd 14.08 ab 14.75 bc 14.75 14.75 de 14.75
T3 8.17 9.50 11.17 c 11.83 ef 14.08 ab 15.67 a 15.67 15.67 cd 15.67
T4 8.33 10.50 11.33 bc 11.92 def 13.42 b 14.50 c 14.50 14.50 cd 14.50
T5 7.08 10.17 12.17 ab 13.83 a 14.00 ab 14.50 c 14.50 14.50 cd 14.50
T6 7.92 10.00 11.25 c 13.58 ab 14.08 ab 15.08 abc 15.08 15.08 bc 15.08
T7 8.58 11.00 12.25 a 13.25 abc 14.42 a 15.50 ab 15.50 15.50 ab 15.50
T8 7.92 10.08 11.50 abc 13.17 bc 14.50 a 15.75 a 15.75 15.75 a 15.75
LSD at 5% NS NS 0.85 0.78 0.70 0.80 NS 1.16 NS
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant; DAS: Days after sowing; T0 = Control, T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4
= CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + ; MnSO4 + B, T7 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo.
Table 4. Effect of different micronutrients on leaf area (cm
2
) in cotton
Treatment 45 DAS 54 DAS 63 DAS 72 DAS 81 DAS 90 DAS 99 DAS 108 DAS 117 DAS
T0
17.29 21.18 22.87 abc 30.03 d 33.88 c 40.33 c 44.25 39.13 d 33.80 d
T1 21.67 23.59 27.84 ab 33.39 c 37.64 bc 43.24 bc 47.12 42.77 bcd 37.29 cd
T2 21.12 24.60 31.65 bc 36.76 b 44.27 a 48.02 ab 52.47 45.83 abc 38.18 c
T3 19.98 26.81 29.80 a 37.11 b 42.08 ab 47.26 ab 51.54 45.76 abc 38.59 bc
T4 20.16 26.36 30.78 c 36.09 bc 44.01 a 51.49 a 51.47 42.11 cd 38.76 bc
T5 24.15 27.73 29.94 bc 38.19 ab 43.39 a 52.19 a 52.18 49.41 a 40.57 bc
T6 20.57 26.18 32.30 a 40.52 a 44.03 a 52.68 a 52.89 48.32 ab 39.76 bc
T7 20.97 24.92 26.95 bc 35.69 bc 45.63 a 51.85 a 52.94 47.78 abc 42.00 b
T8 23.98 29.91 34.77 ab 40.91 a 46.33 a 53.49 a 55.55 50.80 a 45.98 a
LSD at 5% NS NS 5.96 3.25 4.48 6.69 NS 5.88 3.81
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant; DAS: Days after sowing; T0 = Control, T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4
= CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4;+ ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + B, T7 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo.
307
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
Table 5. Effect of different micronutrients on chlorophyll content (SPAD-502 value) in cotton
Treatment 45 DAS 54 DAS 63 DAS 72 DAS 81 DAS 90 DAS 99 DAS 108 DAS 117 DAS
T0 37.96 39.25 c 41.29 f 44.06 e 48.14 abc 45.42 e 42.02 bcd 40.02 c 37.81 bc
T1 36.56 40.75 c 42.86 def 44.58 de 48.80 ab 48.78 cd 44.63 bcd 43.52 b 39.83 bc
T2 37.58 40.74 c 42.69 ef 45.67 cd 49.22 a 48.79 cd 45.26 ab 44.14 ab 39.77 bc
T3 40.99 42.70 b 43.58 cde 46.01 c 50.86 c 48.00 d 45.59 a 43.87 ab 40.73 ab
T4 39.47 43.16 ab 44.34 bcde 46.55 c 51.80 bc 49.50 cd 46.76 d 42.94 bc 40.81 ab
T5 40.40 44.03 ab 44.40 bcd 46.22 c 52.35 c 49.96 cd 45.98 bcd 43.41 b 41.10 a
T6 38.28 42.53 b 45.46 ab 49.01 b 53.09 bc 50.76 bc 47.03 cd 43.65 b 42.63 c
T7 40.70 44.08 ab 45.21 abc 51.00 a 54.75 bc 52.67 ab 49.80 bcd 46.10 ab 42.84 c
T8 40.90 44.63 a 46.11 a 51.98 a 56.77 abc 53.14 a 51.47 abc 47.23 a 44.22 bc
LSD at 5% NS 1.59 1.70 1.41 4.13 2.13 3.95 3.37 2.73
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant; DAS: Days after sowing; T0 = Control, T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4
= CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4; + MnSO4 + B, T7 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo.
Table 6. Effect of different micronutrients number of bolls per plant in cotton
Treatment 72 DAS 81 DAS 90 DAS 99 DAS 108 DAS 117 DAS
T0 0.75 d 0.73 d 1.67 c 1.67 c 3.58 d 5.17
T1 1.25 abc 0.89 cd 3.00 b 3.00 bc 4.50 cd 6.08
T2 1.33 ab 1.92 a 3.17 b 3.17 bc 4.92 cd 6.00
T3 1.58 a 2.00 a 3.58 b 3.58 b 5.83 bc 7.25
T4 0.92 bcd 1.17 bc 3.33 b 3.33 b 5.50 bc 7.42
T5 1.08 bcd 1.33 b 3.33 b 3.33 a 7.33 bc 7.50
T6 1.00 bcd 1.25 b 3.42 b 3.42 a 7.67 ab 8.75
T7 0.83 cd 1.33 b 3.17 b 3.17 b 5.50 bc 7.42
T8 0.67 d 1.83 a 4.42 a 4.42 a 8.33 a 9.83
LSD at 5% 0.45 0.30 0.60 1.43 1.85 NS
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant, DAS: Days after sowing; T0 = Control, T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4
= CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 ;+ MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + B, T7 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo
308
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
Table 7. Effect of different micronutrients on number of cotton seeds per boll, seed cotton yield, earliness
index (EI), mean maturity date (MMD), and production rate index (PRI) in cotton.
Treatment
Number of
cotton seeds
per boll
Seed cotton
yield (Kg/ha)
Earliness
index (%)
Mean
maturity
date (days)
Production
rate index
(g/day)
T0 14.10e 2366.21e 66.74 159.99 27.48e
T1 16.27d 2407.48e 66.26 160.09 27.94e
T2 17.07cd 2509.73d 66.55 160.03 29.14d
T3 17.17cd 2561.75cd 66.19 160.10 29.73cd
T4 17.40bcd 2637.10bc 66.27 160.08 30.61bc
T5 18.17bc 2681.95b 65.82 160.18 31.11b
T6 18.43b 2733.97b 65.50 160.25 31.70b
T7 21.53a 2838.02a 65.80 160.18 32.92a
T8 21.57a 2900.81a 65.62 160.22 33.64a
LSD at 5% 1.24 99.29 2.03 (N.S) 0.43 (N.S) 1.13
Means sharing the common letter in a column do not differ significantly from each other at p 0.05, N.S = non significant; T0 = control,
T1 = Fe, T2 = B, T3 = Mo, T4 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4, T5 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe, T6 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + B, T7 =
CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Mo, T8 = CuSO4 + ZnSO4 + MnSO4 + Fe + B + Mo.
Table 8. Linear regression (R
2
) and correlation coefficient (r) between seed cotton yield (SCY) versus selected
growth and yield components of cotton.
Characters Coefficient of determination (R
2
) Linear correlation coefficient (r)
SCY vs. plant height 0.87
*
0.94**
SCY vs. number of leaves per plant 0.88
*
0.94**
SCY vs. chlorophyll content 0.96
**
0.98**
SCY vs. number of bolls per plant 0.82
*
0.91**
SCY vs. number of cotton seeds per boll 0.90
**
0.95**
* and; ** significant at 0.05 and 0.01 levels, respectively. vs = versus.
DISCUSSION
The results of present investigation indicate
that plant height significantly increased in treatment
compared to control (Table 1). Dordas (2009) in his
experiment found that plant height was increased by
an average of 9 to 10% compared with the control
after the application of micronutrients in cotton
crop. In another study, Tahir et al. (2009) also
recorded that application of chelated zinc improved
the plant height significantly. Foliar application of
zinc, copper, manganese, iron, boron and
molybdenum have key role in increasing the number
of leaves per plant (PADMA et al., 1989).
It has been observed that increase in the
number of node plant might be due to the
application of manganese, which plays a beneficial
role in this regard (DORDAS, 2009). Application of
zinc and boron significantly increased leaf area in
treatment T8 compared to control (Table 4). These
results are similar with the finding of Tahir et al.
(2009) who found that maximum leaf area was
noted in ZnSO4-DTPA followed by ZnSO4 Fulvate,
and ZnSO4-EDTA, while minimum was recorded in
control, where no treatment was applied. In the
present study, highest leaf area (50.8 cm) produced
in T8 treatment may be due to the application of
Zinc sulphate (Table 4).
Dordas (2009) noted that chlorophyll
content was increased by application of Mn and
deficiency of Mn cause decline in chlorophyll
content that may lead to problems of boll abscission
(SILVERTOOTH et al., 1999). Application of Mn
during anthesis in cotton significantly increased the
number of bolls retained in the plant (DORDAS,
2009). It is therefore observed that application of
zinc, iron and boron significantly increased number
of bolls per plant and consequently better yield.
It has been observed previously by
Ratinavel et al. (1999) that number of bolls per plant
and number of cotton seeds per boll were increased
in plants given combined soil application of ZnSO4
and boron. Our results are also in conformity with
those of Hallikeri et al. (2002) who found that
application of ZnSO4 + FeSO4 significantly
increased the seed cotton yield. Singh et al. (2015)
also found that foliar application of combined
micronutrient on cotton benefits to realize the higher
yield. The results of present study (Table 7) are
similar to those of Yaseen et al. (2013) who
indicated a significant improvement in seed cotton
yield with foliar application of Zn, B, Mn, Cu, and
309
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
Fe on cotton grown on calcareous soils with the
recommended soil applied NPK fertilizers in
Pakistan. In the present study, the increase in
earliness index in treatment T8 and T7 (Table 7) may
be due to application of Zn and K (ZAKARIA et al.,
2008).
CONCLUSION
It is inferred that foliar application could be
a viable option to break the yield barrier and it
might be exploited by farmers to enhance cotton
productivity. The application of CuSo4 + ZnSo4 +
MnSo4 + Fe + B fertilization increases the seed
cotton yield and yield contributing parameters
particularly iron and molybdenum improved yield
by increasing the number of bolls per plant.
RESUMO: Os micronutrientes desempenham um papel vital no crescimento e produtividade da cultura do
algodão. Um estudo foi realizado para acessar a aplicação exógena de micronutrientes no crescimento e produção de
cultura de algodão. O experimento foi composto de nove tratamentos como T0 (controle), T1 (Fe quelatado), T2 (B), T3
(Mo), T4 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4), T5 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Fe quelatado) T6 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + B), T7
(CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Mo) e T8 (CuSo4 + ZnSo4 + MnSo4 + Fe quelados + B). Dados sobre diferentes atributos de
crescimento mostraram aumento significativo positivo com a aplicação de micronutrientes. A área foliar foi aumentada
após aplicação de micronutrientes aos 99 dias após a semeadura (DAS), observando - se, então, uma tendência
decrescente. Os teores de clorofila foram aumentados em 81 DAS e depois diminuíram para a colheita final. De forma
semelhante, diferentes componentes de rendimento mostraram que o rendimento de algodão de sementes aumentou
significativamente com a aplicação de Fe, B, Mo, Zn, Cu e Mn em comparação com o tratamento de controlo. O índice de
precocidade, a data média de maturidade eo índice de taxa de produção aumentaram significativamente após o uso
combinado de pulverização foliar de Zn, Cu, Mn e Mo.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Crescimento. Produção. Micronutrientes. Algodão.
REFERENCES
ABRO, G. H.; SYED, T. S.; UNAR, M. A.; ZHANG, M. S. Effect of application of a plant growth regulator
and micronutrients on insect pest infestation and yield components of cotton. Journal of Entomology, v. 1, p.
12-16, 2004. https://doi.org/10.3923/je.2004.12.16
ALI, A.; MAHMOOD, I. A.; HUSSAIN, F.; SALIM, M. Response of rice to soil and foliar application of
K2SO4 fertilizer. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, v. 23, p. 15-19, 2007.
ALI, A. Effect of iron nutrient care sprayed on foliage at different physiological growth stages on yield and
quality of some durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) varieties in sandy soil. Asian Journal of Crop Science, v. 4,
p. 139-149, 2012. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajcs.2012.139.149
ANONYMOUS. MSTATC. Microcomputer Statistical Programme. Michigan State University, Michigan,
Lansing, USA, 1986.
BAHRANI, A.; POURREZA, J. Effects of micronutrients on seed yield and oil content of Brassica napus L. cv.
Talayeh. Bangladesh Journal of Botany, v. 43, n. 2, p. 231-233, 2014.
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v43i2.21679
CHRISTIDIS, R. G.; HARRISON, G. J. Cotton Growing Problems. McGraw-HiIl Book Company, New
York, p: 16, 1955.
DONG, J. F. The yield increasing ability of spraying cotton with boron. Journal of Henan Agriculture
Science, v. 3, n. 6, 1995.
310
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
DORDAS, C. Foliar application of manganese increases seed yield and improves seed quality of cotton grown
on calcareous soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition, v. 32, p. 160-176, 2009.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160802609013
ECONOMIC SURVEY OF PAKISTAN. Finance Division, Economic Advisiry Wings Islamabad, p. 16-17,
2009-10.
HALLIKERI, S. S.; HALEMANI, H. L.; KHADI, B. M. Integrated foliar nutrition for yield maximization of
rainfed cotton. Karnataka Journal of Agriculture Science, v. 15, p. 562-565, 2002.
LIEW, Y. A.; OMAR, S. R.; HUSNI, M. H. A.; ZAINAL, A. M. A.; ASHIKIN, N. P. A. Effects of foliar
applied copper and boron on fungal diseases and rice yield. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agriculture
Science, v. 35, p .339-349, 2012.
MANGAL, P.; PRASAD, R. Nutrient management in cotton. Indian Journal of Agronomy, v. 43, p. 162-164,
1998.
MARSCHNER, H. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 2nd ed. Academic Press, London, England, 1995.
PADMA, M.; REDDY, S. A.; BABU, R. Effect of foliar sprays of molybdenum (Mo) and boron (B) on
vegetative growth and dry matter production of French bean (phaseolus vulgaris L.). Journal of Research
Andhra Pradesh Agriculture University, v. 17, p. 87-89, 1989.
RAB, A.; HAQ, I. Foliar application of calcium chloride and borax influences plant growth, yield, and quality
of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, v. 36, p. 695-
701, 2012.
RATINAVEL, K. C.; DHARMALINGAM, PANEERSEWAM, S. Effect of micronutrients on the productivity
and quality of cotton seed cv. TCB 20 (Gossypium barbadense L.). Madras Journal of Agriculture, v. 86, p.
313-316, 1999.
SAJID, A.; KHAN, A. R.; MAIRAJ, G.; FIDA, M.; BIBI, S. Assessment of different crop nutrient management
practices for yield improvement. Australian Journal of Crop Science, v. 2, p. 150-157, 2008.
SALEEM, M. F.; SHAKEEL, A.; BILAL, M. F.; SHAHID, M. Q.; ANJUM, S. A. Effect of different
phosphorus levels on earliness and yield of cotton cultivars. Soil and Environment, v. 29, p. 128-135, 2010.
SILVERTOOTH, J. C.; EDMISTEN, K. L.; McCARTY, W. H.; SMITH, C. W.; COTHREN, J. T. Production
Practices, Cotton Origin, History, Technology and Production, John Wiley Sons, New York, p. 451-488, 1999.
SINGH, S. S. Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management. Kalyani publishers, New Delhi, India: p. 38, 2003.
SINGH, K.; RATHORE, P.; GUMBER, R. K. Effects of foliar application of nutrients on growth and yield of
BT cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Bangladesh Journal of Botany, v. 44, n. 1, p. 9-14, 2015.
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v44i1.22717
STEEL, R. G. D.; TORRIE, J. H.; DICKEY, D. A. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. A biometrical
approach. McGraw Hill Book Co., New York, USA. p. 400-428, 1997.
TAHIR, M.; FIAZ, N.; NADEEM, M.A.; KHALID, F.; ALI, M. Effect of different chelated Zinc sources on
growth and yield of maize. Soil and Environment, v. 28, p. 179-183, 2009.
YASEEN, M.; AHMED, W.; SHAHBAZ, M. Role of foliar feeding of micronutrients in yield
maximization of cotton in Punjab. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, v. 37, p. 420-426, 2013.
https://doi.org/10.3906/tar-1206-56.
311
Effect of exogenous application… AJMAL, F. et al.
Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 34, n. 2, p. 302-311, Mar./Apr. 2018
ZAKARIA, M. S.; MAHMOUD, M. H.; EL-GUIBALI, A. H.; Influence of potassium fertilization and foliar
application of zinc and phosphorus on growth, yield components, yield and fiber properties of Egyptian cotton
(Gossypium barbadense L.). Journal of Plant Ecology, v. 1, p. 259-270, 2008.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtn021