Page 30 - 22 Cotton SA magazine
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/ NAVORSING, OPLEIDING EN ONTWIKKELING
THE EFFECT OF
boron, calcium and potassium
on cotton
by Calvin Knight, Cotton SA; Dr Tilla van der Westhuizen; C Fourie and J van Schalkwyk, ARC–IC
Two trials were undertaken to investigate the effects of boron (B) and its
interaction with calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) at the ARC–IC experimental
farms in Jan Kempdorp and Groblersdal (Loskop Experimental Farm).
Squares shed from a cotton plant (Groblersdal, 2020).
icronutrients form essential com- chlorosis of young leaves later in the season. Plant
pounds in plants. Boron influences hormones regulate the cotton boll’s growth and
pollen tube growth after pollination development. Calcium helps to strengthen cell
Mand the conversion of nitrogen and walls and cell division, which aids carbohydrate
carbohydrates into complex substances such movement, and therefore influences fibre quality.
as proteins and plant hormones, which are Potassium is important in boll maturation and
essential for reproductive functions (Chaudhry & regulates turgor pressure for fibre elongation.
Guitchounts, 2003). Boron deficiency is realised Deficiencies lead to bolls not opening and leaf
in acidic soils, and may affect root tip elongation, margins can be bronzed and curled downwards
while causing wilting, shedding of squares, or (Chaudhry & Guitchounts, 2003). There is also
30 | Katoen SA \\ Cotton SA
