Boron (B)
Role
of Boron in Crop Production:
Role
of boron in plants is associated with calcium. Boron along with calcium take
part in cell wall formation and cell division process. Boron has huge value in
plant reproductive parts development and contributes to pollination, flowering,
fruits, and seed development.
Boron
also contributes to the following Functions inside the plant body.
Translocation of Sugar and
Carbohydrates
Improves Nitrogen metabolism
Formations of Proteins
Regulate the hormone level
Transport potassium to stomata
that helps to maintain water balance in plant
Mobility
of Boron:
Nitrogen(N),
Potassium(K) and Calcium (Ca) concentration in both soil and plant can affect
the plant function and availability of Boron.
The
balance relationship in calcium and boron (Ca:B) has the most important,
because if calcium content is not in the desired proportion with boron and depends
upon crop specie. If soil has high Calcium content, in this case boron uptake
will be restricted and more boron needs to be added in soil. If soil has low
Calcium content, then chances of boron toxicity is much higher.
Boron & Irrigation Water Quality:
Always keep an eye on the chemical quality of irrigation water. If the
irrigation water chemical report shows that water has Boron (0.3 – 0.5 ppm)
then farmers can use boron free fertilizers, possibly there will be no boron
related deficiency in crops.
Soil and Boron availability:
Boron testing is a part of the standard Soil test. If extractable born is
less than 0.1 pounds/acre, it Means insufficient boron in the soil
for crop production. If extractable born is more than 3.0 pound/acre, it means boron is present excessive in the soil.
Furthermore,
if soil has PH level at 5.5 then boron over-application can lead to boron toxic
effects at that point apply calcium-based fertilizers because calcium binds
boron and make it unavailable.
Excess
of Boron from a certain limit has toxic effects.
The
range of right application and toxic application is too narrow to estimate the exact dose for the crop.
While
deciding the dose of the boron in soil or foliar application, better to know
the extractable boron in soil solution and concentration of boron in plant
body.
Plant
tissue analysis is most reliable method to determine the quantity needed by
plant.
Recommended Dose for some crops while Boron deficiency
observed in crop.
Crop
|
Recommended Boron
|
Crop
|
Recommended Boron
|
Alfalfa
|
2.0 --
4.0
|
Grapes
|
0.6 --
1.0
|
Apple
|
0.3 --
1.4
|
Peanut
|
0.3 --
0.5
|
Cabbage
|
1.0 --
4.5
|
Pea
|
0.9 --
1.2
|
Carrot
|
1.0 -- 1.7
|
Potato
|
0.6 --
1.0
|
Clovers
|
0.6 --
2.3
|
Strawberry
|
0.6 --
1.0
|
Corn
|
0.6 --
1.0
|
Sweet Potato
|
0.6 --
1.7
|
Cotton
|
0.6 --
1.0
|
Tomato
|
0.6 --
1.7
|
Boron
has two forms organic and inorganic form. The boron in the form of Borate (Bo33-)
anion is mobile in soil. This form can be leached easily from surface.
Crops most Sensitive to
Boron are:
Peach, Strawberry and Soybean.
Crops moderately Sensitive to Boron are:
Corn, Tobacco, and small grains.
Crops most tolerant to Boron are:
Cotton, Sunflower and alfalfa.
Boron Containing Fertilizers:
Source compound in
Fertilizer
|
% Boron Content
|
Borax
|
11
|
Boric Acid
|
16
|
Solubor
|
20
|
Deficiency of
Boron:
Boron deficiency symptoms
alike other micro-nutrients in the plants. Boron deficiency symptoms in which
older leaves margin tip chlorosis starts and sooner it converts to necrotic,
which travels inwards causing death and defoliation of leaf. Then rapidly spread
to all lower leaves.
Boron deficiency also
adversely affects the development of growing points of roots and shoots. Often
terminal buds die, and internodes shorten in length, plant shows stunted growth,
brittle stem, leaves may be thickened, and bushy structure is also indicating
the Boron abnormality.
If roots development is poor
and having very few hair roots, the condition possibly is also an indication of
Boron deficiency.
Identification of Boron Deficiency in Major-Crops
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