Growth, dry matter and production components of cotton under phosphorus split application strategies

Compared with single application, the split application of phosphorus during sowing can enhance the efficiency of phosphate fertilization. In view of this, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of phosphorus split application on the growth, dry matter, and production components of the cotton plant. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Faculdade de Tecnologia of the Instituto Centro de Ensino Tecnológico Cariri (Fatec Cariri), located in the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (DIC), with four replications. The treatments were composed of a combination of different phosphorus split application strategies: T1 = no phosphorus; T2 = application of 100 % of the phosphorus at sowing (conventional way); T3 = application of 50 % of the phosphorus at sowing and of 50 % at 35 days after sowing; T4 = application of 70 % of the phosphorus at sowing and of 30 % at 35 days after sowing; and T5 = application of 30 % of the phosphorus at sowing and of 70 % at 35 days after sowing. The following variables were evaluated: plant height; absolute growth rate; stem diameter; number of leaves; root dry matter; total dry matter; and number of flower buds and bolls. The treatments significantly influenced all the variables analyzed. Based on the outcomes, it was found that the split application of phosphorus did not improve the growth, dry matter and production components of the cotton plant compared to the single application.