EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CHELATED COPPER AND MANGANESE ON YIELD COMPONENTS AND FIBER PROPERTIES OF EGYPTIAN COTTON (GOSSYPIUM-BARBADENSE)

A decline in supplies of organic manures and the increased use of chem ical fertilizers has led to a decrease in the micronutrient content of the soil, with attendant effects on yield. Field studies were conduct ed in 1986 and 1987 at the Giza Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt, t o determine the effect of\Cu-EDTA and Mn-EDTA foliar sprays on growth, mineral content, yield components and fibre properties of the Egyptia n cotton cultivar Giza 75 (Gossypium barbadense L.). All combinations used significantly increased the uptake of Cu and Mn and the dry matte r yield. The earliness of harvest and the value of yield components we re all increased by the application of Cu or Mn; 25 mg/l of both Cu an d Mn gave the highest values. Lint percentage and fibre properties wer e not significantly affected. This study indicated that the yield of c otton, grown under otherwise standard conditions, may be increased by foliar sprays of Cu-EDTA and Mn-EDTA combined.