Effect of foliarapplied boron on the yield and fiber quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. )

Study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar B applications on the yield and fiber quality characters of cotton in 2002. Foliar applications of B were made at squaring, first flower and peak flower stages at rates of 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 kg B/ha per each aplication. The highest number of bolls per plant and lowest number of bolls per plant were obtained with the application of 0.90 kg B/ha and the untreated control, respectively. Small non-significant increases were obtained in seedcotton weight and lint turnout by B treatments. B treatments resulted in significant increase in boll weight over the control. The highest boll weights were resulted from the 0.45 and 1.35 kg B/ha treatments. B treatments resulted in significant yield enhancement, and 0.45 kg B/ha treatments gave the similar yield values with the untreated control. Fiber properties were unaffected by B treatments. Key Words: Cotton, foliar fertilization, boron, yield, fiber quality. n