Monitoring the effects of soil and foliar sulfur of forms on the uptake of certai̇n nutri̇ents i̇n cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soi̇l ph levels

Cotton is an agricultural product that has held significant economic and social importance throughout history, widely cultivated globally and used in various industries. In our region, cotton farming is carried out intensively. To achieve high yields, both macro and micro nutrient elements are applied to the soil and leaves in our region. One of the most important factors determining soil fertility is soil reaction (pH). This study was conducted during the May-October 2023 period. The experiment was carried out on a farmer's field in Gürpınar village, located in the Haliliye district of Şanlıurfa. The planting was done in the second week of May after field plowing. The trials were set up according to a randomized block design with four replications. The plot length was 12 meters, with 75 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants within a row, consisting of four rows. A 3-meter gap was left between the plots. The study examined parameters such as seed cotton yield (kg da-1), plant height (cm), number of nodes (per plant-1), number of fruit branches (per plant-1), number of bolls (per plant-1), boll weight (g), boll seed cotton weight (g), SPAD value, ginning percentage (%), 100-seed weight (g), fiber fineness (mic), fiber length (mm), fiber strength (g tex-1), pH, electrical conductivity (Ec), and lime content. As a result of the study, the highest seed cotton yield was determined with the potassium sulfate + urea application (538.9 kg da-1) and the powder sulfur + ZnSO4 + K2SO4 application (536.6 kg da-1). The study showed that the treatments contributed to yield increases to varying degrees compared to the control plots. The potassium sulfate + urea application, which resulted in the highest yield increase (538.9 kg da-1), provided a 13.5% increase compared to the control plots (474.7 kg da-1). Additionally, parameters such as boll weight (g), boll seed cotton weight (g), SPAD value, fiber fineness (mic), fiber strength (g tex-1), pH, Ec, and lime content were found to be significant in the treatments.