Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Nitrogen-fertiliser application effects on cotton lint percentage, seed size, and seed oil and protein concentrations

Ian J. Rochester A and G. A. Constable https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7611-9812 A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 59, Narrabri, NSW 2390, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: gregconau@gmail.com

Crop and Pasture Science 71(9) 831-836 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP20288
Submitted: 6 August 2020  Accepted: 18 September 2020   Published: 6 October 2020

Abstract

In order to develop a better understanding of some yield components, the response of three modern cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars to increasing nitrogen (N) fertiliser application was assessed for lint percentage (LP) and seed weight, as well as seed protein and oil concentrations. Application of N fertiliser led to decreased LP in all three cultivars (by 1.5 percentage points), even if the N-fertiliser rate was above the optimum rate. There was a strong negative correlation between LP and seed mass because seed mass is a component of LP. Seed protein concentration increased, and seed oil concentration decreased, with increasing N fertiliser application. Seed germination was improved in seeds with higher oil concentration; therefore, seed produced with high N fertiliser had reduced seed vigour. It was concluded that little scope exists for further lint-yield increase via LP. For cultivars with small seeds, an integrated system across seed production and crop agronomy can achieve satisfactory seed vigour in the field while also achieving high commercial yields. Future improvements in yield will come from alternative and more complex yield components such as growth habit.

Keywords: cotton lint percentage, lint yield, N-fertiliser management, seed nitrogen and oil contents, seed vigour.


References

Ali A, Ullah S (2012) Effect of nitrogen on achene protein, oil fatty acid profile and yield of sunflower hybrids. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 72, 564–567.
Effect of nitrogen on achene protein, oil fatty acid profile and yield of sunflower hybrids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Blaise D, Singh JV, Bonde AN, Tekale KU, Mayee CD (2005) Effects of farmyard manure and fertilisers on yield, fibre quality and nutrient balance of rainfed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Bioresource Technology 96, 345–349.
Effects of farmyard manure and fertilisers on yield, fibre quality and nutrient balance of rainfed cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15474936PubMed |

Brennan RF, Bolland MDA (2007) Influence of potassium and nitrogen fertiliser on yield, oil and protein concentration of canola (Brassica napus L.) grain harvested in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 976–983.
Influence of potassium and nitrogen fertiliser on yield, oil and protein concentration of canola (Brassica napus L.) grain harvested in south-western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brennan RF, Mason MG, Walton GH (2000) Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the concentrations of oil and protein in canola (Brassica napus) seed. Journal of Plant Nutrition 23, 339–348.
Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the concentrations of oil and protein in canola (Brassica napus) seed.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bridge RR, Meredith WR, Chism JF (1971) Comparative performance of obsolete varieties and current varieties of Upland cotton. Crop Science 11, 29–32.
Comparative performance of obsolete varieties and current varieties of Upland cotton.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell BT, Chapman KD, Sturtevant D, Kennedy C, Horn P, Chee PW, Lubbers E, Meredith WR, Johnson J, Fraser D, Jones DC (2016) Genetic analysis of cottonseed protein and oil in a diverse cotton germplasm. Crop Science 56, 2457–2464.
Genetic analysis of cottonseed protein and oil in a diverse cotton germplasm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chand M, Prasad M, Singh H (1997) Effect of fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Indian Journal of Agronomy 42, 528–530.

Christidis BG (1936) Cotton seed treatment with sulphuric acid. The Journal of Agricultural Science 26, 648–663.
Cotton seed treatment with sulphuric acid.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Conaty WC, Constable GA (2020) Factors responsible for yield improvement in new Gossypium hirsutum L. cotton cultivars. Field Crops Research 250, 107780
Factors responsible for yield improvement in new Gossypium hirsutum L. cotton cultivars.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Constable GA (1991) Mapping the production and survival of fruit on field-grown cotton. Agronomy Journal 83, 374–378.
Mapping the production and survival of fruit on field-grown cotton.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Constable GA, Bange MP (2015) The yield potential of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Field Crops Research 182, 98–106.
The yield potential of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Deutscher S, Wilson LJ, Mensah RK (2005) ‘Integrated pest management guidelines for cotton production systems in Australia.’ (Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre: Narrabri, NSW)

Fritschi FB, Roberts BA, Travis RL, Rains DW, Hutmacher RB (2003) Response of irrigated Acala and Pima cotton to nitrogen fertilization: growth, dry matter partitioning and yield. Agronomy Journal 95, 133–146.
Response of irrigated Acala and Pima cotton to nitrogen fertilization: growth, dry matter partitioning and yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grindley DN (1950) Changes in composition of cottonseed during development and ripening. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 1, 147–151.
Changes in composition of cottonseed during development and ripening.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leffler HR (1986) Cotton physiology. In ‘Developmental aspects of planting seed quality’. (Eds JR Mauney, JM Stewart) pp. 465–474. (The Cotton Foundation: Memphis, TN, USA)

Liu SM, Constable GA, Reid PE, Stiller WN, Cullis BR (2013) The interaction between breeding and crop management in improved cotton yield. Field Crops Research 148, 49–60.
The interaction between breeding and crop management in improved cotton yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Main CL, Barber LT, Boman RK, Chapman K, Dodds DM, Duncan S, Edmisten KL, Horn P, Jones MA, Morgan GD, Norton ER, Osborne S, Whitaker JR, Nichols RL, Bronson KF (2013) Effects of nitrogen and planting seed size on cotton growth, development and yield. Agronomy Journal 105, 1853–1859.
Effects of nitrogen and planting seed size on cotton growth, development and yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mariotti F, Tome D, Mirand PP (2008) Converting nitrogen into protein: beyond 6.25 and Jones’ factors. Critical Reviews in Seed Science and Nutrition 48, 177–184.
Converting nitrogen into protein: beyond 6.25 and Jones’ factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

May WE, Brandt SA, Gan Y, Kutcher HR, Holzapfel CB, Lafond GP (2010) Adaptation of oilseed crops across Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 90, 667–677.
Adaptation of oilseed crops across Saskatchewan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pandey SN, Thejappa N (1975) Study on relationship between oil, protein, and gossypol in cottonseed kernels. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society 52, 312–315.
Study on relationship between oil, protein, and gossypol in cottonseed kernels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1242138PubMed |

Pettigrew WT, Dowd MK (2011) Varying planting dates or irrigation regimes alters cottonseed composition. Crop Science 51, 2155–2164.
Varying planting dates or irrigation regimes alters cottonseed composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rathke GW, Christen O, Diepenbrock W (2005) Effects of nitrogen source and rate on productivity and quality of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) grown in different crop rotations. Field Crops Research 94, 103–113.
Effects of nitrogen source and rate on productivity and quality of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) grown in different crop rotations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rochester IJ (2012) Using seed nitrogen concentration to estimate crop N use efficiency in high-yielding irrigated cotton. Field Crops Research 127, 140–145.
Using seed nitrogen concentration to estimate crop N use efficiency in high-yielding irrigated cotton.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rochester IJ, Bange M (2016) Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of high-yielding irrigated transgenic cotton. Crop & Pasture Science 67, 641–648.
Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of high-yielding irrigated transgenic cotton.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rochester IJ, Constable GA (2015) Improvements in nutrient uptake and nutrient use-efficiency in cotton cultivars released between 1973 and 2006. Field Crops Research 173, 14–21.
Improvements in nutrient uptake and nutrient use-efficiency in cotton cultivars released between 1973 and 2006.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Scholl RL, Miller PA (1976) Genetic association between yield and fiber strength in upland cotton. Crop Science 16, 780–783.
Genetic association between yield and fiber strength in upland cotton.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Snider JL, Collins GD, Whitaker J, Chapman KD, Horn P, Grey TL (2014) Seed size and oil content are key determinants of seedling vigor in Gossypium hirsutum. Journal of Cotton Science 18, 1–9.

Soil Survey Staff (1996) ‘Keys to Soil Taxonomy.’ 7th edn. (Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA: Washington, DC)

Stewart JM (1986) Integrated events in flower and fruit. In ‘Cotton physiology’. (Eds JR Mauney, JM Stewart) pp. 261–300. (The Cotton Foundation: Memphis, TN, USA)

Stiller W (2007) Sicot 80BRF. Plant Varieties Journal 20, 125–128.

Stiller W (2008) Sicot 71BRF. Plant Varieties Journal 21, 194–197.

Stiller W (2010) Sicot 74BRF. Plant Varieties Journal 23, 143–146.

Sugimoto T, Masuda R, Kito M, Shiraishi N, Oji Y (2001) Nitrogen fixation and soil N level during maturation affect the contents of storage compounds of soybean seeds. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 47, 273–279.
Nitrogen fixation and soil N level during maturation affect the contents of storage compounds of soybean seeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

White CA, Roques SE, Berry PM (2015) Effects of foliar-applied nitrogen fertilizer on oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The Journal of Agricultural Science 153, 42–55.
Effects of foliar-applied nitrogen fertilizer on oilseed rape (Brassica napus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Woodward WT, Malm NR (1976) Influence of lint percentage on yield, boll and fiber characteristics in Acala strains of Upland cotton. Crop Science 16, 594–596.
Influence of lint percentage on yield, boll and fiber characteristics in Acala strains of Upland cotton.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |