The effect of gibberellic acid application on cotton yield, plant development and fiber quality

This research was conducted to determine the effect of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) known as a plant growth regulator on cotton yield, plant growth and fiber quality properties. The study was conducted in the experimental area of Siirt University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops in 2018 according to the randomized blocks trial pattern with four replications. BA 440 cotton variety and Berelex gibberellic acid were used as material in the experiment. Seven different applications (Control, Pre-Flowering Period 100 ppm, Pre-Flowering Period 200 ppm, Pre-Flowering Period 400 ppm, Flowering Period 100 ppm, Flowering Period 200 ppm, Flowering Period 400 ppm) were used. In the study, seed cotton yield, fiber yield, number of boll opening days, plant height, number of monopodial branches, number of sympodial branches, node number of first fruiting branches, number of internode, height/node ratio, number of boll, boll weight, seed cotton boll weight, 100 seeds weight, ginning percentage, first picking percentage, number of seed in the boll, and fiber quality traits such as fiber fineness, fiber length, fiber strength, fiber elongation, short fiber index, fiber reflectance, fiber yellowness and spinning consistency index values were examined. The findings obtained from the study showed that gibberellic acid applications did not have a significant effect on the properties examined and that no significant statistical difference could be obtained between the applications. In the study, it was concluded that the application of gibberellic acid applications in cotton before flowering and once during the flowering period was insufficient to determine the effect of plant growth regulator. In addition, it is understood that it would not be appropriate to make any suggestions due to the use of only one variety in the study and the study was conducted for one year, and more research is needed to determine the effect of gibberellic acid according to the data obtained. In the studies to be carried out, it is suggested that the effect of gibberellic acid should be determined especially under stress conditions and normal growing conditions, and it would be appropriate to apply more than one application at different stages of plant growth.