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Potassium (K) deficiency is common in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)-growing areas. This study aims to investigate the effects of different rates of foliar K fertilizer application on three cotton varieties: NG 5711 B3XF (V1), PHY 480 W3FE (V2), and FM 1953GLTP (V3). Potassium fertilizer was dissolved in water and was foliar-applied at 34, 50, and 67 kg ha−1. Cotton plant height (CH) and canopy width (CW) were monitored throughout the growing season. The results showed that foliar K fertilizer application significantly impacted the CH and CW in dry years. Although insignificant, the cotton lint yield increased by 15% and 20% with 34 and 50 kg ha−1 in 2020 and by 9% and 7% with 50 and 67 kg ha−1 in 2021, indicating the potential for improved lint yield with foliar K application in rainfed production systems. Similarly, variety V3 had significantly greater lint and seed yields than V1 in 2020. The average lint yield among the varieties was 32%, and the seed yield was 27% greater in 2020 than in 2021. The cotton fiber color grade was significantly greater at 50 kg ha−1 in 2020 and 67 kg ha−1 in 2021. Cotton variety significantly affected color grade, uniformity, staple length, Col, RD, and Col-b contents in 2020 and 2021. The results suggest that foliar K application can enhance cotton production in rainfed production systems. However, more research is required to quantify varietal and foliar K application rates for improved lint yield and quality.
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Genotypic variation in functional contributors to yield for a diverse collection of field‐grown cotton
Abstract Yield improvement in cotton could be accelerated through selection for functional yield drivers such as interception of cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (∑IPAR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI). However, information on the extent to which these traits vary in cotton in the southeastern United States is limited. It was hypothesized that functional yield drivers would vary significantly within a diverse cotton collection. This study was conducted in Tifton and Athens, GA, and included a total of 4 site‐years. Lint yield, total biomass production, ∑IPAR, RUE, and HI were all affected by genotype. Biomass was more strongly correlated with RUE than ∑IPAR. Even among the highest yielding genotypes, values for functional yield drivers (biomass and harvest index) differed significantly, indicating that high yields could be achieved by differentially manipulating these underlying traits. However, when considered for all genotypes, only HI exhibited a significant positive correlation with yield. Boll production and intra‐boll yield components were also affected by genotype. When considered across upland genotypes, lint per boll, lint per seed, and lint percent were strongly associated with HI and lint yield, whereas boll mass and seed number per boll were not. We conclude that the genotypes evaluated in the current study achieve high lint production per boll and lint yields by manipulating different yield drivers. However, lint yield was primarily maximized through an increase in HI due to increases in boll production and within‐boll distribution of biomass to fiber, not due to increases in total biomass production or boll size.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1934481
- PAR ID:
- 10642597
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Crop Science
- Volume:
- 64
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0011-183X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 1846-1861
- Size(s):
- p. 1846-1861
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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