The effect of zinc application methods on seed cotton yield, lint and seed quality of cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.) in east Mediterranean region of Turkey

Abstract

The effect of different zinc application methods on seed cotton yield, yield components, lint and seed quality of cotton was investigated under east Mediterranean region conditions (Kahramanmaras, Turkey) in 2008. Experimental design was split plots with three replications. The cotton varieties: Agdas-3, Agdas-17 and Maras-92 (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were plant materials. Zinc application treatments were seed, soil surface, foliar application and untreated control. A commercial preparation of chelated zinc (EDTA Zn-17 %) was used as zinc fertilizer. It was determined that zinc application methods did not affect yield and yield components except plant height. While zinc application methods had no effect on lint quality traits except spinning consistency index (SCI), elongation and yellowness (+b), which are the best values, were taken from the soil surface and foliar application of zinc and control for spinning consistency index, and from the foliar application of zinc for yellowness. On the other hand, zinc application methods did not affect raw oil and protein ratio of cotton seeds, as well as the zinc content of cotton seeds and leaves. When the pH, organic matter, lime content and soil texture were taken into consideration, decreasing of pH value and lime content of soil and increasing of organic matter together with zinc fertilization in the experimental field were suggested.

Key words: Cotton, zinc (Zn) fertilizer, application methods, seed cotton yield, lint quality, seed quality.