Abstract
A field study was carried out to determine the influence of foliage applied plant growth promoter and retardant in improving soil applied sulphur fertilizer use efficiency in cotton during two consecutive summers 2014 and 2015. Experimental trial comprised of three different sources of sulphur (ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate and elemental sulphur) and foliar spray of plant growth promoter and growth retardant including tap water was taken as control. Among treatments soil applied ammonium sulphate with foliage applied amino acid produced maximum plant height, sympodial branches, pods per plant, seed cotton yield, fiber yield, biological yield, protein contents, oil contents and leaf nitrogen uptake as compared to the other treatments. Whereas, soil applied potassium sulphate with foliar spray of mepiquat chloride on cotton significantly improved the boll weight and leaf potassium uptake. We conclude that soil applied ammonium sulphate and foliage spray of amino acid was more effective in improving the productivity and quality attributes of cotton.
Highlights
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), the king of fibers, is a major cash crop, which is commercially grown for agricultural and industrial purposes (Iqbal et al, 2017)
Experimental trial comprised of three different sources of sulphur and foliar spray of plant growth promoter and growth retardant including control
Results showed that interaction among different sources of sulphur and foliar spray of plant growth regulators significantly affected plant height during 2014 and 2015 (Table 1)
Summary
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), the king of fibers, is a major cash crop, which is commercially grown for agricultural and industrial purposes (Iqbal et al, 2017). Cotton fiber in earlier times and its by-products nowadays has dominated the economy of developing and developed countries of the world as well. Cotton is an important agricultural commodity and occupies a distinctive position in the agriculture-based economy. It is the key source of employment for millions involved in production; processing, ginning, fabric and oil industry and trade related activities (Noreen et al, 2013). Sulphur is the fourth element essential for plant growth after nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is indispensable for the synthesis of amino acids, proteins, oils, and stimulates enzyme system in the plants
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