The effect of application different doses of acid mixtured seed coating method on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and technological characteristics

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different rates of seed coating of an organic acid mixture (citric acid, glutamate, and proline) on yield and technological characteristics of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The research was conducted at Siirt Universit Faculty of Agriculture' experimental area during 2018 cotton growing season. Study was carried out with randomised complete block design with 4 replications and BA 440 cotton variety was used as seed material. Before seeding, cotton seeds were coated with organic acid mixture product [0.75% citric acid, 0.25% glutamate, 0.25% proline and 98.75 inert ingredients (water)], in six different doses (500 cc ton-1, 1000 cc ton-1, 1500 cc ton-1, 2000 cc ton-1, 2500 cc ton-1) to compare with control (uncoated). Seed cotton yield, fiber yield, plant height, number of monopodial branches, number of sympodial branches, number of first node of fruiting branches, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed boll weight, first picking percentage, 100 seeds weight, fiber fineness, fiber length, fiber strength, fiber elongation, fiber uniformity ratio, short fiber ratio, fiber yellowness value (+ b), fiber brightness value (Rd) and spinning consistency index values were examined. The results of statistical analysis indicated that there were significant differences between treatments in terms of seed cotton yield, fiber yield, boll weight, seed boll weight, first picking percentage and number of first node to fruiting branche, while there were non significant association in terms of other examined observations and technological characteristics. The highest seed cotton yield was obtained from 1500 cc ton-1 application doses as 507.38 kg da-1 which was 19,78% (83,80 kg da-1) higher then that of control (423.58 kg da-1). In conclusion in the light of the information obtained from this study, a remarkable increase in yield was obtained as a result of coating the cotton seeds with the product containing organic acid mixtures (citric acid, gulutamate and proline) at different doses. For this reason, it was concluded that it may be recommended to cover the seeds with the aforementioned mixtures before sowing.