Effect of potassium, zinc and phosphorus on seed yield, seed viability and seedling vigor of cotton (<i>Gossypium barbadense</i>L.)

Abstract

Conditions prevailing during seed formation can affect the quality of seed produced, and hence crop establishment in the next growing season. Two field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of potassium, zinc and phosphorus on seed yield, seed viability, and seedling vigor of cotton cv. Giza 86. Fertilizer applications occurred as follows: two rates of potassium (0.0 and 47 kg ha−1 K) soil-applied in bands three weeks after sowing; two rates of chelated zinc (0.0 and 58 g ha−1 Zn) foliar sprayed twice, at 70 and 85 days after sowing (during square initiation and boll setting stage), and, four rates of phosphorus foliar sprayed twice as a solution of calcium super phosphate (0.0, 576, 1152 and 1728 g ha−1 P), at 80 and 95 days after sowing. Dry matter yield, total chlorophyll concentration, K, Zn and P uptake plant−1, seed yield ha−1, seed weight, seed viability, seedling vigor, and cool germination test performance increased with the addition of K, Zn, and P. Band application of K at 47 kg ha−1 and foliar application of relatively low rates of Zn (58 g ha−1) and P (1728 g ha−1) improved cotton-seed yield and quality.