Effect of foliar application of boron and zinc on cotton yield, quality and physiological characteristics

This study was carried out to determine the yield, yield components, fiber technological and physiological features of different Zinc (Zn) and Boron (B) applications in cotton. The study was carried out as the Randomized Complete Blocks Design with four replication under Siirt ecological conditions at 2022. In the study, MAY 455 cotton variety was used as materials. The study included 7 different (control, Zn 45, Zn (45+60), Zn (45+60+75), B 45, B (45+60), B (45+60+75)) applications. According to results obtained in the study, significant differences were determined between applications in terms of seed cotton yield, fiber yield, number of first fruiting branche, number of monopodial branche, number of boll per plant, number of nodes of per plant, gin turn out, number of sympodial branche and chlorophyll content (SPAD reading). There were not significant differences between the Zn and B applications in terms of fiber quality properties. Zinc application performed on the 45th, 60th and 75th day after planting caused a significant positive increase in all morphological and physiological characteristics except plant height, height-node ratio and NDVI value. However, from the data obtained, it was determined that although zinc was numerically less in the applications made on the 45th and 60th days after planting, it was statistically in the same group. In the light of this information, it has been concluded that zinc application 3 times, on the 45+60+75th days after planting, can be recommended because it gives the highest values in terms of yield and other morphological and physiological characteristics.