Effect of Foliar Spray with Trace Elements and Irrigation with Saline Water on Growth and Yield of Cotton1

Abstract

This work was conducted to study the effect of spraying with certain trace elements under different salinity treatments on flowering, fruiting and yield of cotton.
While spraying with trace elements did not affect flowering, a direct positive relationship was obtained between salinity and the total number of flowers produced per plant. Both total produced and harvested number of bolls per plant were increased with increasing salt content to 2,500 ppm, but decreased with 5,000 ppm. An inverse relationship was obtained between the salt concentration and the boll setting percentage and a direct relationship was obvious between spraying with trace elements and boll setting percentage. Average boll size was not affected by either salinity or spraying with trace elements.
The yield of seed cotton per plant was increased only with 2,500 ppm of salinity level; whereas at the 5,000 ppm significant decrease in yield was observed. The increase in yield due to spraying with trace elements was attributed to the increase in number of bolls retained. Boll size was not affected by both salinity and trace elements treatments.