The influence of boron applications on the agronomic characteristics and technological properties of the cotton fiber were studied in a regional group of experiments conducted through the São Paulo State cotton belt, during the years of 1979 to 1986. The boron cumulative effect was studied in a long term trial of boron fertilization conducted with cotton, installed in 1983 on a low fertility Dusky Red Latosol, limed and frequently fertilized with NPK. In all experiments, rates of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 kg/ha of B as borax (11% of B), were applied at sowing time, in latin square design experiments. The cultivar IAC 17 was used during four years, followed by the IAC 20. The regional experiments were grouped by previous informations about use of liming and mineral manure, associated to the occurrence of boron deficiency as toxicity symptons. In continuously fertilized soil, where the reaction to boron used to be high in terms of productivity, it was demonstrated that the fertilization with boron improved the length and the boll weight, decreased Micronaire index, and was negligible for another characteristics. The effect of boron accumulation increased the boll weight and seed weight.
boron; accumulation; regional tests; long term trial; agronomic characteristics; technological properties of cotton fiber