Abstract
Boron-deficiency is prevalent in light-textured acidic soil regions receiving high precipitation. Crop use efficiency of fertiliser B is also low under such B-leaching environments. For high leaching regimes, we hypothesised that the optimal timing and method of B application would vary with the crop sensitivity to B-deficiency and periods of peak demand for B. The aim of the present experiment was to vary the timing and method of B application to increase use efficiency on typical B-deficient Entisols. Mustard (Brassica campestris L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were the test crops. There were seven treatment combinations of B, applied either to soil or as foliar sprays at different doses and growth stages of the crops. Biomass and yield related characters of the crops at harvest, B concentration in plants and its uptake increased with B application being highest in mustard, followed by potato and wheat. Foliar application, in general had higher economic benefits than soil application. Split application of B either to soil (as basal and 25 days after sowing) or foliar sprays (at 25 and 40 and 25 and 45 days after sowing for mustard and potato, respectively) had an edge over a single application. For wheat, a single late application of B (at 45 or 60 days after sowing through soil or foliar spray, respectively) was more effective than the early or split application in increasing yields. Better use efficiency of B can thus be achieved if it is applied late for wheat but in splits over a longer period for mustard and potato with higher economic benefits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergmann W (1992) Nutritional disorders of plants development, visual and analytical diagnosis. Wiley, New York, p 345
Bhattacharyya BK, Mukherjee D, Ali MH, Trivedi N, Bhattacherjee PK, Mandal B (1998) Micronutrients in soils and crops of West Bengal. Directorate of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal, Calcutta, p 28
Brown PH, Bellaloui N, Wimmer MA, Bassil ES, Ruiz J, Hu H, Pfeffer H, Dannel F, Romheld V (2002) Boron in plant biology. Plant Biol 4:205–223
De DK (1997) Studies on boron availability in acid inceptisols of West Bengal in relation to boron nutrition of crops. Ph.D. thesis, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India. p 104
Gaines TP, Mitchell GA (1979) Boron determination in plant tissue by the azomethine-H method. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 10:1099–1108
Ghosh S (1999) Studies on sorption processes of boron in soils in relation to boron nutrition of crops. Ph.D. thesis, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India. p 187
Huang L, Pant J, Dell B, Bell RW (2000) Effects of B deficiency on anther development and floret fertility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Wilgoyne). Ann Bot 85:493–500
Huang L, Bell RW, Dell B (2001) Boron supply into wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Wilgoyne) ears whilst still enclosed within leaf sheath. J Exp Bot 52:1731–1738
Johnson F, Allmendinger DF, Miller VL, Dolley D (1995) Fall application of boron spray as a control for blossom blast and twig dieback of pears. Phytopathology 45:110–114
Malhi SS, Raza M, Schoenau JJ, Mermut AR, Kutcher R, Johnston AR, Gill KS (2003) Feasibility of boron fertilization for yield, seed quality and B uptake of canola in northeastern Saskatchewan. Can J Soil Sci 83:99–108
Mandal B, De DK (1993) Depthwise distribution of extractable boron in some acidic Inceptisols of India. Soil Sci 155:256–262
Mortvedt JJ (2000) Bioavailability of micronutrients. In: Sumner ME (ed) Handbook of soil science. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp D71–D88
Nachiangmai D, Dell B, Bell RW, Huang LB, Rerkasem B (2004) Enhanced boron transport into the ear of wheat as a mechanism for boron efficiency. Plant and Soil 264:141–147
Nayak DC, Sarkar D, Velayutham M (2001) Soil series of West Bengal. NBSS & LUP, Nagpur, p 260
Parker DR, Gardner EH (1981) The determination of hot water soluble boron in some acid Oregon soils using a modified azomethine-H procedure. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 12:1311–1322
Rerkasem B, Jamjod S (1997) Boron deficiency induced male sterility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and implications for plant breeding. Euphytica 96:257–262
Rerkasem B, Jamjod S (2004) Boron deficiency in wheat: a review. Field Crops Res 89:173–186
Rerkasem B, Lordkaew S, Dell B (1997) Boron requirement for reproductive development in wheat. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 43:953–957
Sarkar D (2006) Studies on boron availability in soils in relation to its nutrition of crops. Ph.D. thesis, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India p 110
Sarkar D, Mandal B, Sarkar AK, Singh S, Jena D, Patra DP, Martin P (2006) Performance of boronated NPK in boron deficient soils. Indian J Fert 1:57–59
Sarkar D, Mandal B, Mazumdar D (2007) Plant availability of boron in acid soils as assessed by different extractants. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci, (Revised)
Walkley A, Black IA (1934) An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38
Welch RM, Allaway WH, House WA, Kubota J (1991) Geographic distribution of trace element problems. In: Mortvedt JJ, Cox FR, Shuman LM, Welch RM (eds) Micronutrients in Agriculture, 2nd edn, SSSA Book Ser. 4. SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 31–57
Wooding FJ (1985) Interior Alaska crops respond to boron applications. Agroborealis 17:47–49
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Richard W. Bell.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sarkar, D., Mandal, B. & Kundu, M.C. Increasing use efficiency of boron fertilisers by rescheduling the time and methods of application for crops in India. Plant Soil 301, 77–85 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9423-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9423-1