Lower and Upper Critical Zinc Levels in Relation to Cotton Growth and Development

Solution culture experiments in the greenhouse were conducted to determine the lower and upper critical Zn levels relative to early cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth and development. Upland cotton ‘Coker 310’ was grown in nutrient solution with fourteen Zn levels ranging from 0 to 10,000 μg/liter. The plants were grown for 31 days, harvested and analyzed for Zn. At Zn levels of less than 20 μg/I, top dry weight, root dry weight, plant height, node number and squares produced were reduced as compared to plants supplied with adequate Zn. Toxicities were induced at 2000 μg/I and higher. Root dry weight was not influenced by Zn levels to 10,000 μg/I. The lower critical Zn levels where Zn is required at a minimum concentration for maximum growth were from 8 to 11 μg/I in blades 1 through 5, respectively. The upper critical Zn levels where maximum Zn concentration in blade tissue can be tolerated for maximum growth were from 130 to 300 μg/g for blades 1 to 5, respectively. Blade 3, the recently matured leaf, was selected as the representative tissue for analysis. The lower and upper critical Zn levels in blade 3 were 11 and 200 μg/g, respectively.