Foliar Applied Boron not only Enhances Seed Cotton Yield but also Improves Fiber Strength and Fineness of Cotton Cultivars
Muhammad Ashfaq Wahid, Muhammad Saleem, Shahbaz Khan, Sohail Irshad, Mumtaz Akhtar Cheema, Muhammad Farrukh Saleem, Haroon Zaman Khan, Madad Ali, Ali Bakhsh, Zuhair Hasnain, Sara T. Alrashood, and Sulaiman Ali Alharb
Received: 16 October 2020/ Revised: 23 March 2021/ Accepted: 25 March 2021
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is as famous as “White Gold” due to its high quality fiber. Boron (B) is one of essential micronutrients involved directly or indirectly in many plant processes. Cotton growth, yield and quality are intensely influenced with B application. A 2 years field based study was conducted to explore the impact of foliar applied B (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 kg ha-1 ) on productivity and quality of cotton cultivars (FH-113, MNH-786, and CIM-496). Outcomes of the experiment reflected that application of various levels of B significantly influences the growth and quality attributes of cotton cultivars. Crop growth rate, plant height, sympodial branches per plant, seed cotton weight per boll, and seed cotton yield were recorded at maximum by application of B at 1.5 kg ha-1 during both growing seasons. Quality parameters including fiber strength and fineness were also improved by foliar application at 1.5 kg ha-1 . Among the cotton cultivars, FH-113 performed better regarding productivity, yield and quality of produce during the years of cultivation. Maximum field benefits or net returns were obtained by foliar applied B at 1.5 kg ha-1 in cultivar FH-113 during experimental years. Findings of current experimentation indicated that foliar application of B at 1.5 kg ha-1 is considered economical to produce good quality of fiber with enhanced seed cotton yield.