foliar fertlizers and nutrient diagnosis in cotton crop

MICRONUTRIENTS & ITS BENEFITS

Syed Saeed Ur Rehman ShahRgional Business ManagerFarmers Equity Pakistan Pvt. Ltd.

ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS

Macronutrients Required in relatively large amounts.

Micronutrients Required in small amounts. Minor or trace elements.

MACRONUTRIENTS

Fall into one of three categories: Non-Mineral Elements Primary Nutrients Secondary Nutrients

NON-MINERAL ELEMENTS

(C) Carbon (H) Hydrogen (O) Oxygen

PRIMARY NUTRIENTS

(N) Nitrogen (P) Phosphorus (K) Potassium

SECONDARY NUTRIENTS

(Ca) Calcium (Mg) Magnesium (S) Sulfur

MACRONUTRIENTS

Macronutrients are needed in relatively large amounts by plants.

Element Symbol Source

Oxygen O Air/Water

Hydrogen H Air/Water

Carbon C Air/Water

Nitrogen N Soil

Phosphorus P Soil

Sulfur S Soil

Potassium K Soil

Calcium Ca Soil

Magnesium Mg Soil

MICRONUTRIENTS

(Fe) Iron (Cu) Copper (Zn) Zinc (B) Boron

(Mo) Molybdenum (Mn) Manganese (Cl) Chlorine

MICRONUTRIENTS

Macronutrients are needed in relatively small amounts by plants.

They are usually supplied by fertilizers.

Element Symbol Source

Iron Fe Soil

Manganese Mn Soil

Boron B Soil

Molybdenum Mo Soil

Copper Cu Soil

Zinc Zn Soil

Chlorine Cl Soil

WHY FOLIAR NUTRITION NOW !

Large Yields

Higher Populatio

ns

Marginal Soils

High rate of

fertilizers

Crop intensity

& rotationGenetics

Function & Deficiency

Symptoms of Nutrients

Several factors can affect occurrence of deficiency symptoms Soil test level also consider texture, CEC, OM, pH, etc. Soil conditions, e.g., temperature compaction moisture Salinity

Tillage practicesRoot pruning Nutrient interactionsP-Zn

Herbicide, disease, or insect damage

Nutrient Mobility in the PlantTranslocated Symptoms appear in older leaves

firstnitrogenphosphorouspotassiumMagnesiumNot translocated

Symptoms appear in younger leaves

firstsulfurcalciumboron, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, chloride

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NUTRIENTS NEEDED BY ALL CROPSWHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NUTRIENTS NEEDED BY ALL CROPS

Nutrient

Nitrogen (N)

Potassium (K)

Phosphorus (P)

Soil (lb/a)*

400 – 8,000

800 - 60,000

400 – 10,000

Crop (lb/a)**

80

40

12

SECONDARY NUTRIENTS NEEDEDBY ALL CROPSSECONDARY NUTRIENTS NEEDEDBY ALL CROPS

Nutrient

Calcium

Magnesium

Sulfur

Soil (lb/a)*

14,000 – 1,000,000

1,200 - 12,000

60 – 20,000

Crop (lb/a)**

16

8

6

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NUTRIENTS NEEDED BY ALL CROPSWHAT ARE THE PRIMARY NUTRIENTS NEEDED BY ALL CROPS

Nutrient

Nitrogen (N)

Potassium (K)

Phosphorus (P)

Soil (lb/a)*

400 – 8,000

800 - 60,000

400 – 10,000

Crop (lb/a)**

80

40

12

MICRONUTRIENTS NEEDED BY ALL CROPSMICRONUTRIENTS NEEDED BY ALL CROPS

Nutrient

Iron

Manganese

Copper

Zinc

Boron

Chlorine

Molybdenum

Soil (lb/a)*14,000 – 1,100,000

40 – 6,000

4 - 200

20 - 600

4 - 200

40 – 1,800

0.4 - 10

Crop (lb/a)**

1

0.8

0.08

0.6

0.08

4

0.0008

Cotton

Make a Preliminary Diagnosis

• Discoloration

• Nutrient deficiencies

• Diseases

• Herbicide or salt injury

N management of cotton Uptake may reach 1-2 Kg/A/day during mid boll fill

Approximately 20% of seasonal needs should be supplied pre-bloom

Supply remainder of N should be supplied during boll development period

Soil N should be depleted as bolls begin to open to avoid delayed maturity

N deficient cotton Early and mid seasonYellowish-green leaf color and small young leavesStunted plantsShortened fruiting branchesMany bolls shed in the first 10-12 days after flowering Late seasonReddening in the middle of the canopyReduced boll retention at late fruiting positionsShorter flowering period, accelerated leaf senescence, and early cut-out

FUNCTIONS OF PHOSPHORUS IN COTTON PRODUCTION

Promotes early boll development and hastens maturity

Essential for vigorous root and shoot growth

Helps overcome the effects of compaction

Increases water use efficiency A 2 bale crop can take up more than 50

lb P2O5/A

P DEFICIENT COTTON SYMPTOMS ARE NOT DISTINCT IN COTTON,

Stunting Dark leaves Flowering delayed Poor boll retention Premature leaf senescence

POTASSIUM IN COTTON PRODUCTION

Bolls are major sinks for K, uptake may peak at as much as 1-2 Kg K2O/A/day during boll development.

About 70% of total uptake occurs after first bloom.

Affects quality (micronaire, length, and strength) Increases water use efficiency Reduces the incidence and severity of wilt

diseases A 2 bale crop will take-up about 80Kg K2O

POTASSIUM DEFICIENT COTTON

Potassium deficient cottonAffects older leaves first in early seasono Begins as

scorching of leaf margin

o Affects both yield and quality

Late season affects younger leaves

FOLIAR K ON COTTON

Response to mid-season foliar K is likely when soil K is low (low soil test level or fixation)

Applications at 2 week intervals should begin at or soon after 1st flower 2 Kg K2O/A per application

SULFUR DEFICIENT COTTON

Symptoms similar to N but occur on younger leaves in upper canopy first

Leaf veins tend to remain green

MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

• Interveinal chlorosis in younger leaves • Zn deficiency can result in

leathery, upturned leaves and bronzing

ZINC DEFICIENCY IN COTTON

BORON

Deficiency Symptoms Short, thick stems

tips. Young leaves of

terminal buds are light green at base.

Leaves become twisted & die.

THANK YOU

Questions ?

NP K

Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn Cu, Zn, B, Mo, I