EFFECT OF ZINC AND BORON ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF COTTON

Abstract

To investigate the response of cotton Gossypium hirsutum cv Lashata to spray with zinc and boron only or together throught critical stages of plant growth of growth and yield. Afield experiment was conducted during 2008 and 2009 season at The Experimental Farm, Department of Field Crop Science, College of Agriculture/University of Baghdad. Randomized complete block design with four replications was used, This was to compare the treatments: control(spray water only ), foliar application of zinc boron were done at beginning of squar and twice spraying at beginning of squar + beginning of flowering and three spraying at beginning of squar + beginning of flowering + beginning of boll development . The concentrations of nutrients were 75mg Zn.L-1 of Zn and 100mg B . L-1 of B . The results indicated that highest response of cotton to foliar application of Zn +B three sprays ,it gave a significant increasing in seed cotton yield about 33.10% and 35.95% increased and lint yield about 39.83% and 46.88% increased due to producing higher number of open bolls , boll weight and dry weight compared with control during season respectively . Spraying Zn + B three time gave significant of B and Zn concentration in leaves compared with control, while oil percentage did not significantly affected by all the treatments applied on the two season .