Assessing Boron Needs for Improving Peanut Yield and Quality

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine requirements of boron (B) for Spanish peanuts (Arachis hypogaea); (i) three rates of B were applied in solution to soil surfaces at 17 field locations, (ii) two rates of B were applied to soil at various stages of growth, and (iii) four B carriers were compared. Soil samples were collected at planting time. Leaf and petiole samples were collected 30 and 60 days after planting. The relationship of the occurrence of internal damage to initial soil B levels and concentration of B in plant tissue were evaluated. The effects of time, rate, and B carrier were also compared.Boron deficiency was found in more than 50% of the field locations. Boron application did not increase yields of peanuts or improve seed quality as measured by yield of sound mature kernels. The occurrence of internal damage from B deficiency (IDB) was shown to be related to hot‐water‐soluble soil B and to B content in young leaves and petioles. No IDB was found at locations with a hot‐water‐soluble soil B level > 0.15 ppm. Peanuts from plants with B concentration in young leaf tissue between 26 to 30 ppm at 30 and 60 days after planting were free of IDB. Boron applied as late as 60 days after planting was effective in eliminating IDB. No difference in the effectiveness of the four B carriers was found.

Comparative species responses to boron on a Typic Tropaqualf in Northern Thailand

“…1 kg B ha-~ in Experiment 3) are similar to those found by other workers to correct hollow heart in peanut (Cox et al, 1982;Hill and Morrill, 1974).…”

“…However, after harvesting crop 5, HWSB levels in the 0-10 cm layer of the Bo plots had decreased from an initial level of 0.15 #g g l to 0.05 #g g-l. These HWSB levels associated with hollow heart incidence in peanut in the San Sai series, are consistent with those of 0.15/~g g-l or below found by Hill and Morrill (1974), but apparently higher than those of 0.05/~g g-~ and below regarded as critical by Cox et al, (1982).…”

“…B deficiency in peanuts often causes internal damage of the cotyledons (Cox et al, 1982;Harris and Brolman, 1966;Hill and Morrill, 1974;Morrill et al, 1977) and sometimes causes poor pod and seed set (Harris and Gilman, 1957), but commonly has no effects on seed yield (Cox et al, 1982; Hill and Morrill, 1974;Morrill et al, 1977). There are some notable exceptions.…”

“…From their study, Hill and Morrill (1974) concluded that B concentrations below 30/~g g-~ at 30 to 60 days after planting indicate a high probability of hollow heart disorder in kernels at maturity. Such differences are not surprising since standards used for prediction of nutrient disorders in mature crops are based on empirical relationships which may be expected to vary with crop duration, soil moisture levels, rooting depth and B supplying power of soils.…”

Boron deficiency in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]: Symptoms in seeds and differences among soybean cultivars in susceptibility to boron deficiency

“…In this respect it contrasts with hollow heart in peanut which is generally a more sensitive indicator of B deficiency than is seed D M (Cox et al, 1982;Hill and Morrill, 1974;Morrill et al, 1977;Rerkasem et al, 1988).…”