Effects of salinity on cotton plants treated with chemicals

Abstract

Studies were carried out to establish the effects of spray of polyethylene polysulfide (5%), oxyethylene docosanol (5%) and succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydrazide (2,000 ppm), in the growth of cotton 'IAC-RM3', under application of N-P-K (5:10:5) and irrigation with solution of NaCl - CaCl2 - MgCl2 (1.00:0.85:0.15). The antitranspirants promote increase in leaf area of cotton; and the growth retardant causes diminution in the leaf area in relation to check in salinity conditions. The chemicals promote increase in the dry weight in relation to check. The net assimilation rate and the relative growth rate were superior in the plots that received the chemicals in relation to check in salinity conditions. It was not verified differences between the plants treated with antitranspirants and the check in relation to the leaf area ratio; that parameter was inferior in the treatment with the growth retardant.