Foliar Enrichment Of Potassium And Boron Overcomes Salinity Barriers To Improve Growth And Yield Potential Of Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.)

Foliar application of essential minerals is considered as an economical approach to enhance growth and productivity of crop plants. This study aims to assess the individual and combined effects of potassium (KNO3; K+= 4.5 Kg ha(-1)) and boron (H3BO3; B3+ = 0.15 Kg ha(-1)) on growth and yield of salt stressed Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. var. CIM 496). Plants were grown in lysimeters and irrigated with 0, 6 and 12 dS m(-1) sea salt solutions, for 12 weeks. Foliar application of K+, B3+ and K++B3+ improved plant height and biomass under both non-saline and saline conditions. Foliar enrichment of minerals not only reduced sodium (Na+) entry but also enhanced K+ availability, hence maintained a favorable ion relation (K+/Na+) in photosynthetic tissues. Such regulations along with maintained succulence and production of organic osmolytes (e.g., sugars) helped plant in osmotic adjustment. Salt induced inhibition of reproductive growth was also significantly reverted by foliar application of K+, B3+ and K++B3+. Number of cotton bolls, lint weight, number and weight of seeds and seed cotton yield were significantly improved by K+, B3+ and K++B3+ application. Combined application (K++B3+) showed maximum plant growth and productivity even at higher salinity (12 dS m(-1)). This approach can be adopted to obtain a considerable crop yield from less productive soils using saline water irrigation and can provide profitable outcomes by converting vast degraded lands into lucrative resources.