Fiber Quality of Colored Cotton As a Function of Potassium Fertilization in the Semi-Arid Region

ABSTRACT

Naturally colored fiber cotton is an essential alternative green and organic for the textile industry, as it does not require chemical dyeing. However, the low availability of potassium during production can directly affect the quality of the fiber. Based on this, this study aimed to evaluate the fiber quality in naturally colored cotton cultivars submitted to potassium fertilization in a semi-arid region. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replications, and the treatments were arranged in split plots. In the plot, the following were allocated: five K rates (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha⁻¹ of K₂O); and in the subplots, the four colored cotton cultivars (BRS Rubi, BRS Safira, BRS Topázio, and BRS Verde). The results showed that K is involved in the length, uniformity, short fiber index, micronaire index, and reliability index of naturally colored cotton fibers. A longer fiber length of 30.45 mm was obtained at a dose of 240 kg ha⁻¹ of K₂O for the cultivar BRS Topázio. In addition, a higher uniformity (84.95%) was achieved with the dose of 240 kg ha⁻¹ of K₂O for BRS Verde. The dose of 240 kg ha⁻¹ of K₂O reduced (8.62% and 11.28%) the short fiber index in the cultivars BRS Rubi and BRS Safira, respectively.

摘要

天然彩色纤维棉是纺织业必不可少的绿色和有机替代品，因为它不需要化学染色. 然而，生产过程中钾的低可用性会直接影响纤维的质量. 基于此，本研究旨在评估半干旱地区施用钾肥的天然彩色棉花品种的纤维质量. 实验设计是随机分组的，有四个重复，治疗安排在分裂区. 在该地块中，分配了以下内容: 五种钾含量（0、60、120、180和240 kg ha-1的K2O; 在子地块中，四个彩色棉花品种（BRS Rubi、BRS Safira、BRS Topázio和BRS Verde）. 结果表明，K与天然彩色棉纤维的长度、均匀性、短纤维指数、马克隆指数和可靠性指数有关. 品种BRS-Topázio在240 kg ha-1的K2O剂量下获得了30.45 mm的较长纤维长度. 此外，BRS Verde在240 kg ha-1的K2O剂量下获得了更高的均匀性（84.95%). 240 kg ha-1的K2O剂量使品种BRS Rubi和BRS Safira的短纤维指数分别降低（8.62%和11.28%).

KEYWORDS:

• Gossypium hirsutum
• potassium
• micronaire
• reliability

关键词:

• 多毛棉
• 钾
• 马克隆
• 可靠性

Highlights

• Potassium fertilization promotes better fiber quality in colored cotton grown in the semi-arid region.

• The BRS Topázio cultivar has high fiber quality and, regardless of the potassium dose, is recommended for cultivation in the semi-arid region.

• There is a very strong correlation between fiber length and the variables uniformity and count strength product index.

Acknowledgments

We to thank for their financial support from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) - Financing Code 001. We also thank the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) for all the support in carrying out the analyzes and the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) for the space and support for the research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).