PJB-2017-546
INFLUENCE OF BORON NUTRITION ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUMHIRSUTUM L.) CROP
Sagheer Ahmad
Abstract
The productivity of arable crops is greatly impacted by imbalanced nutrient management. The deficiency of one or more mineral nutrients can cause substantial reduction in crop yields. Of the micronutrients, the deficiency of boron affects the yield potential of cotton to the greatest extent. This study was carried out to quantify the boron nutritional requirement of cotton. The treatments included three boron levels (0.0, 0.75 and 1.50 kg B ha-1) and two application regimes (soil and soil plus foliar). Foliar application was done at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing during peak growth stages. The results revealed that application of 1.50 kg B ha-1 along with foliar sprays increases crop growth rate (CGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) by 15% and 31% respectively. While, the membrane leakage was reduced by 35% by addition of 1.50 kg B ha-1, chlorophyll a and b contents improved by 2% and 5% through combined application of boron via soil and foliar spray. The water-use-efficiency was enhanced by 35% by application of B-fertilizer through soil as well foliar spray. Gas exchange parameters, i.e.net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance increased by 66%, 47% and 62% respectively after application of B-fertilizer and there was a significant increase in number of bolls per plant, boll weight and an ultimate improvement in final seed cotton yield of 16%. Keywords: Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., Boron fertilizer, Soil application, Foliar spray, Seed cotton yield, Gas exchange characteristics.
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