Foliar Fertilization with Potassium Nitrate in Cotton

D.M. Oosterhuis, W.N. Miley, R. Maples, and S.D. Wullschleger


 
ABSTRACT

The advent of high yielding, early-maturing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars and the increased use of nitrogen in cotton management has lead to the appearance of widespread potassium deficiencies. Field research was conducted at two locations in Arkansas in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate the beneficial aspects of foliar-applied potassium nitrate (KNO3) to cotton yield and fiber quality. Visible injury of leaves was not observed at foliar rates of 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kg KNO3 ha-1. Petiole analysis indicated that plants receiving foliar applications of KNO3 had significantly higher potassium concentrations than did the controls. Yield improvements were observed when plants were fertilized with both soil- and foliar-applied KNO3, or foliar-applied KNO3 alone, when compared to controls receiving no KNO3 fertilizer. Fiber quality was significantly increased by foliar-applied KNO3 in 1989 but not in 1990. The increase in 1989 occurred primarily in fiber uniformity and strength. Foliar applications of KNO3 may be a useful cotton production practice for supplementing preplant soil applications of potassium fertilizer.



Reprinted from 1991 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pg. 942
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998