Cottonseed yield and its quality as affected by mineral nutrients and plant growth retardants

Figures & data

Table 1. Physical and chemical properties of the soil used in I and II seasons

Season	I	II
Soil texture
Clay (%)	43.0	46.5
Silt (%)	28.4	26.4
Fine sand (%)	19.3	20.7
Coarse sand (%)	4.3	1.7
Soil texture	Clay	Loam
Chemical analysis
Organic matter (%)	1.8	1.9
Calcium carbonate (%)	3.0	2.7
Total soluble salts (%)	0.13	0.13
pH (1:2.5)	8.1	8.1
Total nitrogen (%)^a	0.12	0.12
Available nitrogen (mg kg^−1 soil)^b (1% K2SO4, extract)	50.0	57.5
Available phosphorus (mg kg^−1 soil) (NaHCO3 0.5 N, extract)	15.7	14.2
Available potassium (mg kg^−1 soil) (NH4OAC 1 N, extract)	370.0	385.0
Total sulfur (mg kg^−1 soil)	21.3	21.2
Calcium (meq/100 g) (with Virsen, extract)	0.2	0.2

Note: The Physical analysis (soil fraction) added to the organic matter, calcium carbonate and total soluble salts to a sum of about 100% (Sawan et al., 2009).

^a Total nitrogen, i.e. organic N + inorganic N.

^b Available nitrogen, i.e. ${\text{NH}}_4^{+}$ and ${\text{NO}}_3^{-}$.

Table 2. Range and mean values of the weather variables recorded during the growing seasons (April–October)

Weather variables	Season I		Season II		Overall date (two seasons)
	Range	Mean	Range	Mean	Range	Mean
Max temp (°C)	20.8–44.0	32.6	24.6–43.4	32.7	20.8–44.0	32.6
Min temp (°C)	10.4–24.5	19.4	12.0–24.3	19.3	10.4–24.5	19.3
Max-min temp (°C)	4.7–23.6	13.2	8.5–26.8	13.4	4.7–26.8	13.3
Sunshine (h d^−1)	0.3–12.9	11.1	1.9–13.1	11.2	0.3–13.1	11.1
Max hum (%)	48–96	79.5	46–94	74.7	46–96	77.2
Min hum (%)	6–48	30.1	8–50	33.0	6–50	31.5
Wind speed (m s^−1)	0.9–11.1	5.2	1.3–11.1	5.0	0.9–11.1	5.1

Source: Sawan et al., (2009).

Table 3. Effect of N-rate and foliar application of plant growth retardants and Zn on seed yield plant⁻¹ and seed yield ha⁻¹, and seed weight

Treatment	Cotton seed yield (g plant^−1)		Cotton seed yield (kg ha^−1)		Seed weight (g 100 seed^−1)
	I	II	I	II	I	II
N-rate (kg ha^−1)
107 (Control)	17.55	18.90	1,854.5	1,960.8	10.11	10.46
161	19.17^**	20.55^**	2,026.3^**	2,131.0^**	1,0.25^**	10.63^**
L.S.D.  0.05	0.944	0.790	107.80	86.07	0.096	0.083
0.01	1.261	1.055	143.99	114.97	0.129	0.111
Plant growth retardants (ppm)
0 (Control)	17.12	18.29	1,810.6	1,893.8	10.05	10.43
MC, 300	19.12^*	20.55^**	2,021.7^*	2,130.2^**	10.27^*	10.62^**
CC, 300	18.79^*	20.36^**	1,985.6^*	2,110.5^**	10.24^*	10.59^**
SADH, 300	18.41	19.74^*	1,943.8	2,049.1^*	10.17	10.55^*
L.S.D.  0.05	1.335	1.118	152.45	121.73	0.137	0.117
0.01	n.s.	1.493	n.s.	162.59	n.s.	0.156
Zn-rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	17.70	18.85	1,870.9	1,954.0	10.12	10.48
50	19.02^**	20.59^**	2,010.0^*	2,137.8^**	10.24^*	10.61^**
L.S.D.  0.05	0.944	0.790	107.80	86.07	0.096	0.083
0.01	1.261	1.055	n.s.	114.97	n.s.	0.111

Note: n.s.: Not significant.

* Significant at 5% level.

** Significant at 1% level (Sawan et al., 1998).

Table 4. Effect of N-rate and foliar application of plant growth retardants and Zn on seed viability and cool germination test performance

Treatment	Germination velocity (%)		Second germination count (%)		Germination capacity (%)		Germination rate index (GRI unit)		Cool germination test performance (%)
									4-day count		7-day count
	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II
N-rate (kg ha^−1)
0 (Control)	72.81	75.38	79.31	81.12	80.56	83.19	0.655	0.656	33.19	33.94	67.44	69.12
161	75.69^**	79.06^**	84.44^**	85.62^**	85.81^**	87.81^**	0.653	0.655	35.75^**	37.31^**	71.81^**	74.25^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.802	1.668	2.229	1.838	2.038	1.662	n.s.	n.s.	1.707	1.702	1.730	1.626
(0.01)	2.407	2.228	2.978	2.455	2.722	2.220	n.s.	n.s.	2.281	2.273	2.311	2.172
Plant growth retardants (ppm)
0 (Control)	71.88	74.62	79.12	80.62	80.25	82.88	0.654	0.655	32.38	33.25	67.50	69.25
MC, 300	75.62^*	78.75^**	83.75^*	85.12^**	84.88^*	87.12^**	0.654	0.655	35.62^*	37.12^*	70.75^*	73.12^**
CC, 300	75.12^*	78.38^**	82.88^*	84.50^**	84.25^*	86.38^**	0.654	0.656	35.12^*	36.38^*	70.38^*	72.62^**
SADH, 300	74.38	77.12^*	81.75	83.25^*	83.38^*	85.62^*	0.654	0.655	34.75	35.75^*	69.88	71.75^*
L.S.D. (0.05)	2.548	2.359	3.153	2.600	2.883	2.350	n.s.	n.s.	2.415	2.407	2.447	2.300
(0.01)	n.s.	3.152	n.s.	3.472	n.s.	3.139	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	3.072
Zn-rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	73.31	75.81	80.56	82.06	81.88	84.12	0.654	0.655	33.56	34.44	68.56	69.94
50	75.19^*	78.62^**	83.19^*	84.69^**	84.50^*	86.88^**	0.654	0.656	35.38^*	36.81^**	70.69^*	73.44^**
L.S.D.  (0.05)	1.802	1.668	2.229	1.838	2.038	1.662	n.s.	n.s.	1.707	1.702	1.730	1.626
(0.01)	n.s.	2.228	n.s.	2.455	n.s.	2.220	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	2.273	n.s.	2.172

Note: n.s.: Not significant.

^* Significant at 5% level.

^** Significant at 1% level (Sawan et al., 1998).

Table 5. Effect of N-rate and foliar application of plant growth retardants and Zn on seedling vigor

Treatment	Hypocotyl length (cm)		Radicle Length (cm)		Seedling length (cm)		Seedling fresh weight (g 10 seedling^−1)		Seedling dry weight (g 10 seedling^−1)
	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II
N-rate (kg ha^−1)
107 (Control)	7.59	7.58	15.76	15.91	23.35	23.49	6.89	7.20	0.594	0.597
161	7.80^**	7.87^**	16.26^**	16.52^**	24.06^**	24.38^**	7.27^**	7.61^**	0.622^**	0.636^**
L.S.D. 0.05	0.149	0.162	0.348	0.310	0.484	0.429	0.206	0.180	0.0167	0.0156
0.01	0.199	0.217	0.465	0.414	0.647	0.573	0.275	0.240	0.0224	0.0209
Plant growth retardants (ppm)
0 (Control)	7.50	7.46	15.58	15.72	23.08	23.18	6.83	7.14	0.587	0.593
MC, 300	7.79^*	7.86^**	16.25^*	16.46^**	24.04^*	24.32^**	7.23^*	7.60^**	0.621^*	0.630^**
CC, 300	7.76^*	7.82^**	16.16^*	16.38^**	23.92^*	24.21^**	7.17^*	7.48^**	0.615^*	0.624^**
SADH, 300	7.73^*	7.76^*	16.06	16.29^*	23.78^*	24.05^**	7.10	7.40^*	0.609	0.619^*
L.S.D. 0.05	0.210	0.230	0.492	0.439	0.685	0.607	0.291	0.254	0.0237	0.0221
0.01	n.s.	0.307	n.s.	0.586	n.s.	0.811	n.s.	0.340	n.s.	0.0296
Zn-rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	7.62	7.61	15.82	15.99	23.43	23.60	6.97	7.28	0.599	0.606
50	7.77^*	7.84^**	16.20^*	16.43^**	23.98^*	24.27^**	7.19^*	7.53^**	0.616^*	0.627^**
L.S.D. 0.05	0.149	0.162	0.348	0.310	0.484	0.429	0.206	0.180	0.0167	0.0156
0.01	n.s.	0.217	n.s.	0.414	n.s.	0.573	n.s.	0.240	n.s.	0.0209

Note: n.s.: Not significant.

^* Significant at 5% level.

^** Significant at 1% level (Sawan et al., 1998).

Table 6. Effect of P-rate and foliar application of Zn and Ca on seed yield plant⁻¹ and seed yield plot⁻¹, and seed weight

Treatment	Cotton seed yield (g plant^−1)		Cotton seed yield (kg plot^−1)		Seed weight (g 100 seed^−1)
	I	II	I	II	I	II
P2O5 rate (kg ha^−1)
44 (Control)	17.04	17.93	1.302	1.345	10.06	10.32
74	18.80^**	20.03^**	1.439^**	1.505^**	10.26^**	10.54^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.451	0.697	0.0385	0.0511	0.091	0.075
(0.01)	0.603	0.931	0.0515	0.0683	0.121	0.101
Zn rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	17.30	18.10	1.322	1.358	10.11	10.36
40	18.54^**	19.87^**	1.419^**	1.492^**	10.21^*	10.50^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.451	0.697	0.0385	0.0511	0.091	0.075
(0.01)	0.603	0.931	0.0515	0.0683	n.s.	0.101
Ca rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	16.61	17.79	1.270	1.333	10.03	10.30
20	17.96^**	18.92^*	1.368^**	1.419^*	10.18^*	10.43^*
40	18.46^**	19.43^**	1.411^**	1.460^**	10.21^*	10.47^**
60	18.65^**	19.80^**	1.432^**	1.488^**	10.22^*	10.51^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.638	0.986	0.0545	0.0723	0.129	0.107
(0.01)	0.853	1.317	0.0728	0.0966	n.s.	0.143

Note: n.s.: Not significant.

^* Significant at 5% level.

^** Significant at 1% level (Sawan et al., 1999).

Table 7. Effect of P-rate and foliar application of Zn and Ca on seed viability and cool germination test performance

Treatment	First germination count (%)		Second germination count (%)		Total germination count (%)		Germination rate index (GRI unit)		Cool germination test performance (%)
									4-day count		7-day count
	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II
P2O5 rate (kg ha^−1)
44 (Control)	73.19	75.44	79.25	82.31	80.62	83.69	0.656	0.655	33.06	34.00	68.19	70.06
74	76.38^**	78.94^**	84.00^**	85.62^**	85.38^**	86.88^**	0.654	0.656	35.81^**	37.88^**	71.56^**	73.12^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.703	1.588	1.719	1.579	1.675	1.504	n.s.	n.s.	1.555	1.548	1.837	1.626
(0.01)	2.275	2.121	2.297	2.109	2.238	2.009	n.s.	n.s.	2.077	2.068	2.454	2.171
Zn rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	73.75	76.12	80.50	82.75	81.94	84.19	0.655	0.655	33.56	34.88	68.81	70.44
40	75.81^*	78.25^**	82.75^*	85.19^**	84.06^*	86.38^**	0.655	0.656	35.31^*	37.00^**	70.94^*	72.75^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.703	1.588	1.719	1.579	1.675	1.504	n.s.	n.s.	1.555	1.548	1.837	1.626
(0.01)	n.s.	2.121	n.s.	2.109	n.s.	2.009	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	2.068	n.s.	2.171
Ca rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	72.12	74.25	78.88	81.62	80.25	82.75	0.655	0.655	32.62	.75	67.50	69.12
20	74.75^*	77.38^**	81.50^*	83.88^*	82.62^*	85.38^*	0.656	0.656	34.25	36.38^*	70.20^*	71.50^*
40	75.88^**	78.25^**	82.75^**	84.62^**	83.75^**	85.88^**	0.656	0.656	35.12	36.62^*	70.75^*	72.62^**
60	76.38^**	78.88^**	83.38^**	85.75^**	85.38^**	87.12^**	0.654	0.656	35.75^*	37.00^*	71.12^*	73.12^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	2.409	2.246	2.432	2.233	2.369	2.127	n.s.	n.s.	2.199	2.190	2.598	2.299
(0.01)	3.218	2.999	3.248	2.983	3.165	2.841	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	3.071

Note: n.s.: Not significant.

* Significant at 5% level.

** Significant at 1% level (Sawan et al., 1999).

Table 8. Effect of P-rate and foliar application of Zn and Ca on seedling vigor

Treatment	Hypocotyl length (cm)		Radicle length (cm)		Seedling length (cm)		Seedling fresh weight (g 10 seedling^−1)		Seedling dry weight (g 10 seedling^−1)
	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II
P2O5 rate (kg ha^−1)
44 (Control)	7.53	7.59	15.72	15.86	23.25	23.45	6.99	7.30	0.596	0.601
74	7.80^**	7.92^**	16.30^**	16.55^**	24.10^**	24.47^**	7.23^**	7.52^**	0.620^**	0.625^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.182	0.149	0.325	0.344	0.487	0.468	0.135	0.163	0.0133	0.0112
(0.01)	0.243	0.199	0.434	0.459	0.651	0.625	0.181	0.217	0.0178	0.0149
Zn rate (g ha^−1)
0.0 (Control)	7.57	7.64	15.79	15.95	23.36	23.59	7.02	7.33	0.600	0.605
40	7.76^*	7.86^**	16.22^*	16.46^**	23.98^*	24.32**	7.20^*	7.50^*	0.615^*	0.622^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.182	0.149	0.325	0.344	0.487	0.468	0.135	0.163	0.0133	0.0112
(0.01)	n.s.	0.199	n.s.	0.459	n.s.	0.625	n.s.	n.s.	n.s.	0.0149
Ca rate (ppm)
0 (Control)	7.44	7.53	15.53	15.70	22.98	23.23	6.95	7.16	0.592	0.597
20	7.69	7.77^*	16.08^*	16.26^*	23.77^*	24.03^*	7.12	7.40^*	0.609	0.614^*
40	7.74^*	7.81^*	16.16^*	16.38^**	23.90^*	24.19^**	7.16^*	7.52^**	0.612^*	0.618^*
60	7.78^*	7.89^**	16.26^*	16.49^**	24.04^*	24.38^**	7.22^*	7.58^**	0.618^*	0.624^**
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.257	0.210	0.459	0.486	0.689	0.662	0.191	0.230	0.0189	0.0158
(0.01)	n.s.	0.281	n.s.	0.649	n.s.	0.884	n.s.	0.308	n.s.	0.0211

Note: n.s.: Not significant.

* Significant at 5% level.

** Significant at 1% level (Sawan et al., 1999).

Table 9. Mean effects of N-rate and foliar application of potassium and the plant growth MC on dry matter yield and uptake of N and K by cotton plants (season II, sampled 105 days after planting)

Treatments	Dry matter yield (g plant^−1)	N		K
		Conc./d.m. (%)	Uptake (mg plant^−1)	Conc./d.m. (%)	Uptake (mg plant^−1)
N rate (kg ha^−1)
95.2	39.8^b	3.12^b	1,242.7^b	2.10^b	836.4^b
142.8	47.9^a	3.26^a	1,560.6^a	2.46^a	1,177.6^a
L.S.D.  0.05	3.4	0.11	77.2	0.14	46.7
K2O rate (kg ha^−1)
0	38.2^b	3.08^b	1,177.2^c	2.04^b	779.7^d
0.38	43.0^b	3.16^b	1,358.2^b	2.26^a	971.4^c
0.77	45.3^a	3.22^b	1,457.7^ab	2.38^a	1,077.4^b
1.152	48.9^a	3.30^a	1,615.0^a	2.44^a	1,194.1^a
L.S.D.  0.05	4.8	0.16	109.5	0.20	68.9
MC rate (kg ha^−1)
0	40.2^b	3.09^b	1,241.9^b	2.18^b	876.1^b
0.048 + 0.024	47.5^a	3.29^a	1,563.4^a	2.38^a	1,131.0^a
L.S.D. 0.05	3.4	0.11	77.2	0.14	46.7

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2009).

Table 10. Mean effects of N-rate and foliar application of potassium and the plant growth retardant MC on seed yield plant⁻¹ and seed yield ha⁻¹, and seed weight

Treatments	Cotton seed yield (g plant^−1)	Cotton seed yield (kg ha^−1)	Seed weight (g 100 seed^−1)
N rate (kg ha^−1)
95.2	19.11^b	1,862.4^b	10.09^b
142.8	21.61^a	2,105.0^a	10.32^a
L.S.D. 0.05	0.864	78.78	0.075
K2O rate (kg ha^−1)
0	18.48^b	1,804.3^c	10.03^c
0.38	20.38^a	1,985.1^b	10.19^b
0.77	21.05^a	2,047.7^ab	10.27^ab
1.15	21.52^a	2,097.6^a	10.32^a
L.S.D.  0.05	1.222	111.42	0.107
MC rate (kg ha^−1)
0	19.42^b	1,891.8^b	10.13^b
0.048 + 0.024	21.30^a	2,075.6^a	10.27^a
L.S.D. 0.05	0.864	78.78	0.075

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2009).

Table 11. Mean effects of N-rate and foliar application of potassium and the plant growth retardant MC on seed viability and cool germination test performance

Treatments	First germination count (%)	Second germination count (%)	Total germination Capacity (%)	Germination rate index (GRI unit)	Cool germination test performance (%)
					4-day count	7-day count
N rate (kg ha^−1)
95.2	74.56^b	81.25^b	82.91^b	0.655	32.56^b	70.03^b
142.8	78.13^a	84.84^a	86.00^a	0.656	35.00^a	72.50^a
L.S.D.  0.05	1.373	1.329	1.206	n.s.	1.077	1.160
K2O rate (kg ha^−1)
0	72.88^c	0.81^c	81.63^c	0.654	31.81^b	68.88^b
0.38	75.88^b	82.69^b	84.31^b	0.655	33.81^a	71.25^a
0.77	77.75^ab	84.25^ab	85.31^ab	0.656	34.38^a	72.19^a
1.15	78.88^a	85.44^a	86.56^a	0.656	35.13^a	72.75^a
L.S.D.  0.05	1.942	1.879	1.705	n.s.	1.523	1.641
MC rate (kg ha^−1)
0	74.84^b	81.56^b	83.19^b	0.655	32.91^b	70.28^b
0.048 + 0.024	77.84^a	84.53^a	85.72^a	0.656	34.66^a	72.25^a
L.S.D. 0.05	1.373	1.329	1.206	n.s.	1.077	1.160

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2009).

Table 12. Mean effects of N-rate and foliar application of potassium and the plant growth retardant MC on seedling vigor

Treatments	Hypocotyl length (cm)	Radicle length (cm)	Seedling length (cm)	Seedling fresh weight (g 10 seedling^−1)	Seedling dry weight (g 10 seedling^−1)
N rate (kg ha^−1)
95.2	7.31^b	16.24^b	23.56^b	6.81^b	0.637^b
142.8	7.62^a	16.69^a	24.31^a	7.04^a	0.655^a
L.S.D.  0.05	0.149	0.239	0.377	0.101	0.0085
K2O rate (kg ha^−1)
0	7.18^c	15.91^b	23.09^c	6.71^b	0.626^b
0.38	7.45^b	16.48^a	23.93^b	6.94^a	0.647^a
0.77	7.55^ab	16.70^a	24.24^ab	6.99^a	0.653^a
1.15	7.69^a	16.79^a	24.48^a	7.07^a	0.657^a
L.S.D.  0.05	0.211	0.338	0.532	0.143	0.0120
MC rate (kg ha^−1)
0	7.33^b	16.28^b	23.61^b	6.84^b	0.638^b
0.048 + 0.024	7.60^a	16.66^a	24.26^a	7.02^a	0.654^a
L.S.D. 0.05	0.149	0.239	0.377	0.101	0.0085

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2009).

Table 13. Effect of interaction between K rate and foliar application of Zn on dry matter yield and uptake of K, Zn, and P by cotton plants (season II, sampled 105 days after planting)

K rate (kg ha^−1)	Dry matter yield (g plant^−1)		K uptake (mg plant^−1)		Zn uptake (μg plant^−1)		P uptake (mg plant^−1)
	Zn rate (g ha^−1)
	0.0	58	0.0	58	0.0	58	0.0	58
0.0	26.51^d	35.90^b	1442.4^bc	1705.2^b	1381^b	2191^a	94.44^b	98.81^b
47	33.18^c	46.33^a	1686.6^b	2307.7^a	2052^a	2109^a	102.88^b	138.56^a
LSD (0.05)	1.649		245.8		503		23.72

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 14. Effect of interaction between K rate and foliar application of P on chlorophyll and uptake of K and Zn and by cotton plants (season II, sampled 105 days after planting)

P rate (g ha^−1)	Chlorophyll (mg l^−1)		K uptake (mg plant^−1)		Zn uptake (μg plant^−1)
	K rate (kg ha^−1)
	0.0	47	0.0	47	0.0	47
0.0	3.859^f	4.389^e	1,533.6^c	1,687.6^bc	1,828^bc	1,402^c
576	5.002^d	5.120^d	1,485.9^c	1,551.0^c	1,668^bc	1,970^b
1,152	6.386^c	7.002^b	2,003.8^ab	1,820.5^b	2,120^ab	2,505^a
1,728	7.355^b	7.839^a	2,050.5^ab	2,151.5^a	1,989^b	1,984^b
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.450		245.8		503

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 15. Effect of interaction between Zn rate and foliar application of P on uptake of K and Zn by cotton plants (season II, sampled 105 days after planting)

P rate (g ha^−1)	K uptake (mg plant^−1)		Zn uptake (μg plant^−1)
	Zn rate (g ha^−1)
	0.0	58	0.0	58
0.0	1,658.4^bc	1,879.0^b	2,188^ab	1,551^c
576	1,613.1^c	1,895.0^b	1,760^c	2,139^ab
1,152	1,495.1^c	2,041.3^ab	1,836^bc	1,569^c
1,728	1,528.6^c	2,173.4^a	2,020^abc	2,402^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	245.8		503

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 16. Effect of interactions between K rate, foliar application of Zn; P on chlorophyll and uptake of Zn by cotton plants (season II, sampled 105 days after planting)

Treatment			Chlorophyll (mg l^−1)	Zn uptake (μg plant^−1)
K rate (kg ha^−1)	Zn rate (g ha^−1)	P rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	0.0	0.0	3.163^i	1,488^ghi
		576	3.965^h	1,253^ij
		1,152	4.543^gh	1,124^j
		1,728	4.652^g	1,661^g
	58	0.0	4.555^g	2,168^ef
		576	4.813^g	1,550^gh
		1,152	5.461^f	2,212^de
		1,728	5.588^f	2,279^cde
47	0.0	0.0	5.950^ef	2,888^a
		576	6.550^de	2,419^bcd
		1,152	6.812^d	1,978^f
		1,728	6.650^d	1,478^ghi
	58	0.0	6.823^cd	1,353^hij
		576	7.454^bc	2,591^b
		1,152	7.899^b	2,000^f
		1,728	9.027^a	2,490^bc
L.S.D. (0.05)			0.636	251

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 17. Mean effects of K and foliar application of Zn and P on dry matter yield, chlorophyll and uptake of K, Zn, and P by cotton plants (season II, sampled 105 days after planting)

Treatments	Dry matter yield (g plant^−1)	Chlorophyll (mg l^−1)	K uptake (mg plant^−1)	Zn uptake (μg plant^−1)	P uptake (mg plant^−1)
K rate (kg ha^−1)
0.0	29.85^b	4.593^b	1,564.5^b	1,717^b	98.66^b
47	41.12^a	7.146^a	2,006.4^a	2,150^a	119.19^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.166	0.225	122.91	251	11.86
Zn rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	31.21^b	5.286^b	1,573.8^b	1,786^b	97.13^b
58	39.76^a	6.453^a	1,997.2^a	2,081^a	120.72^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.166	0.225	122.91	251	11.86
P rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	33.50^c	5.123^c	1,768.7^a	1,974^a	91.50^b
576	34.56^c	5.696^b	1,754.1^a	1,954^a	108.56^a
1152	36.27^b	6.178^a	1,768.1^a	1,829^a	116.19^a
1728	37.59^a	6.479^a	1,851.0^a	1,977^a	119.44^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.649	0.318	n.s.	n.s.	16.77

Notes: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels, and n.s.: not significant (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 18. Effect of K-rate and foliar application of Zn and P on seed yield plant⁻¹ and seed yield plot⁻¹, and seed weight

Treatments	Cotton seed yield (g plant^−1)		Cotton seed yield (kg plot^−1)		Seed weight (g 100 seed^−1)
	I	II	I	II	I	II
K rate (kg ha^−1)
0.0	19.16^b	18.35^b	1.457^b	1.395^b	10.12^b	9.89^b
47	21.98^a	20.76^a	1.671^a	1.580^a	10.29^a	10.04^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.14	1.28	0.095	0.098	0.09	0.08
Zn rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	19.57^b	18.73^b	1.489^b	1.425^b	10.15^b	9.92^b
58	21.57^a	20.38^a	1.639^a	1.549^a	10.26^a	10.00^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.14	1.28	0.095	0.098	0.09	0.08
P rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	18.55^b	17.82^b	1.413^b	1.358^b	10.08^b	9.86^b
576	20.63^a	19.30^ab	1.566^a	1.467^ab	10.21^a	9.95^ab
1,152	21.21^a	20.35^a	1.611^a	1.546^a	10.26^a	10.00^a
1,728	21.88^a	20.74^a	1.667^a	1.578^a	10.29^a	10.04^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.62	1.81	0.134	0.138	0.12	0.11

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 19. Effect of K-rate and foliar application of Zn and P on seed viability and cool germination test performance

Treatments	Germination velocity (%)		Second germination count (%)		Total germination capacity (%)		Germination rate index (GRI unit)		Cool germination test performance (%)
									4-day count		7-day count
	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II
K rate (kg ha^−1)
0.0	75.19^b	74.19^b	82.19^b	81.13^b	83.63^b	82.44^b	0.655^a	0.655^a	32.88^b	32.38^b	70.56^b	68.69^b
47	79.13^a	77.00^a	87.81^a	84.63^a	89.13^a	86.00^a	0.654^a	0.655^a	36.06^a	35.44^a	72.88^a	71.25^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.85	1.97	2.11	1.71	2.07	1.81	n.s.	n.s.	1.49	1.74	1.64	1.94
Zn rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	75.81^b	74.44^b	83.38^b	81.81^b	84.63^b	83.19^b	0.655^a	0.654^a	33.13^b	32.75^b	70.81^b	68.88^b
58	78.50^a	76.75^a	86.83^a	83.94^a	88.13^a	85.25^a	0.654^a	0.655^a	35.81^a	35.06^a	72.63^a	71.06^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	1.85	1.97	2.11	1.71	2.07	1.81	n.s.	n.s.	1.49	1.74	1.64	1.94
P rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	74.25^b	73.38^b	81.63^b	80.13^c	82.88^b	81.38^c	0.654^a	0.655^a	32.25^b	32.13^b	69.50^b	68.00^b
576	76.88^a	75.13^ab	84.75^a	82.63^b	86.25^a	84.00^b	0.654^a	0.654^a	34.50^a	33.38^ab	71.88^a	69.25^ab
1,152	78.13^a	76.63^a	86.25^a	83.25^ab	87.75^a	84.88^ab	0.654^a	0.655^a	35.00^a	34.63^a	72.38^a	70.75^a
1,728	79.38^a	77.25^a	87.38^a	85.50^a	88.63^a	86.63^a	0.655^a	0.655^a	36.13^a	35.50^a	73.13^a	71.88^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	2.61	2.78	2.98	2.42	2.92	2.56	n.s.	n.s.	2.11	2.46	2.32	2.74

Notes: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels, and n.s.: not significant (Sawan et al., 2011).

Table 20. Effect of K-rate and foliar application of Zn and P on seedling vigor

Treatments	Hypocotyl length (cm)		Radicle length (cm)		Seedling length (cm)		Seedling fresh weight (g 10 seedling^−1)		Seedling dry weight (g 10 seedling^−1)
	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II	I	II
K rate (kg ha^−1)
0.0	7.28^b	7.12^b	16.26^b	15.82^b	23.54^b	22.94^b	6.86^b	6.66^b	0.640^b	0.621^b
47	7.71^a	7.41^a	16.73^a	16.34^a	24.44^a	23.75^a	7.10^a	6.88^a	0.658^a	0.641^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.22	0.20	0.35	0.36	0.56	0.54	0.14	0.15	0.011	0.012
Zn rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	7.34^b	7.16^b	16.30^b	15.90^b	23.63^b	23.05^b	6.88^b	6.69^b	0.642^b	0.623^b
58	7.66^a	7.37a	16.70^a	16.27^a	24.36^a	23.63^a	7.08^a	6.85^a	0.657^a	0.638^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.22	0.20	0.35	0.36	0.56	0.54	0.14	0.15	0.011	0.012
P rate (g ha^−1)
0.0	7.12^b	6.98^b	15.91^b	15.58^b	23.02^b	22.56^b	6.77^b	6.55^b	0.632^b	0.614^b
576	7.51^a	7.25^ab	16.50^a	16.10^a	24.01^a	23.35^a	7.00^a	6.78^a	0.649^a	0.630^ab
1152	7.65^a	7.33^a	16.74^a	16.26^a	24.39^a	23.59^a	7.04^a	6.84^a	0.653^a	0.637^a
1728	7.72^a	7.48^a	16.84^a	16.40^a	24.56^a	23.87^a	7.11^a	6.91^a	0.662^a	0.643^a
L.S.D. (0.05)	0.32	0.28	0.50	0.51	0.80	0.76	0.20	0.21	0.016	0.017

Note: Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 levels (Sawan et al., 2011).

Sawan, Z. M., Fahmy, A. H., & Yousef, S. E. (2009). Direct and residual effects of nitrogen fertilization, foliar application of potassium and plant growth retardant on Egyptian cotton growth, seed yield, seed viability and seedling vigor. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 29, 116–123.10.1016/j.chnaes.2009.05.008

 Google Scholar

Sawan, Z. M., Gregg, B. R., & Yousef, S. E. (1998). Influence of nitrogen fertilisation and foliar-applied plant growth retardants and zinc on cotton seed yield, viability and seedling vigour. Seed Science and Technology, 26, 393–404.

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Sawan, Z. M., Gregg, B. R., & Yousef, S. E. (1999). Effect of phosphorus, chelated zinc and calcium on cotton seed yield, viability and seedling vigour. Seed Science and Technology, 27, 329–337.

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Sawan, Z. M., Fahmy, A. H., & Yousef, S. E. (2011). Effect of potassium, zinc and phosphorus on seed yield, seed viability and seedling vigor of cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 57, 75–90.10.1080/03650340903222328

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar