Boron Fertilization Influences on Soybean Yield and Leaf and Seed Boron Concentrations

Abstract

Soybean [Glycine max (Merr.) L.] is considered relatively insensitive to B deficiency. However, B deficiency has recently become a common nutrient deficiency of soybean in northeast Arkansas. Field studies were conducted on four alkaline silt‐loam soils in northeast Arkansas to determine the influence of B application time and rate on soybean growth, tissue B concentration, and seed yield. Boron fertilizer was applied at 0, 0.28, 0.56, 1.12, and 2.24 kg B ha−1 near the V2 or R2 growth stages. Boron fertilization had no significant effect on soybean yield at one site but increased seed yields from 4 to 130% at three sites. At the most responsive site, B application at V2 increased yields by 13% compared with applications at R2. In contrast, at a site where leaf B concentrations were sufficient for soybean receiving no B, B applied at the R2 stage significantly increased seed yields by 5% compared with V2 B applications. Trifoliate leaf B concentrations at the R2 stage increased as B rate increased. Seed B concentrations also increased as B rate increased. Boron applied at the R2 stage resulted in equal or greater seed B concentrations than B applied at the V2 stage. Application of 0.28 to 1.12 kg B ha−1 during early vegetative or reproductive growth was sufficient to produce near maximal yields. The expected severity of B deficiency plus fertilizer and application costs associated with B fertilization should be considered when selecting the most appropriate B fertilization strategy.

Growth, yield, and calcium and boron uptake of tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) asaffected by calcium and boron humate application in greenhouse conditions

“…The positive effect of B on different crops was also previously reported by many researchers, i.e. on tomato (Salam et al, 2009), wheat (Güneş et al, 2003), sunflower (Oyinlola, 2007), pepper and cucumber , celery (Dambrauskienè et al, 2007), and soybean (Ross et al, 2006). As a result of these investigations, it was reported that different B applications increased the nutrient content, plant growth, and yield of different plant species.…”

Response of Pulse and Oilseed Crops to Boron Application: A Review

“…Boron application at the rate of 1.0 kg ha -1 increased effective pod per plant while boron at the rate of 2.0 kg B ha -1 produced higher 100 seed weight significantly. Similarly, Ross et al, (2006) found that there was increase in the number of plant nodes and plant height in soybean crop with increasing levels of boron up to 1.12 kg B ha -1 , however, significant increase was observed up to 0.56 kg B ha -1 of application. Hemantaranjan et al, (2000) observed that foliar application of boron as boric acid at the rate of 50 mg kg -1 and 100 mg kg -1 boron on soybean increased morpho-physiological attributes, total dry matter production and seed yield.…”

Yield and mineral composition of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Karaerik)as affected by boron management

“…In our study, leaf tissue B content at the OEBR was similar to the B content of grapevine. Several scientists, such as Guertal (2004), Santos et al (2004), and Ross et al (2006) suggested that 10 mg/kg, 66 mg/kg, and 44.1 mg/kg in some plant tissues is the critical level for B in bentgrass, alfalfa, and soybean, respectively. Mills and Jones (1996) suggested critical leaf and berry values for optimum grapevine growing as follows: 1.6%-2.8%, 2.0%-2.6% for N; 0.2%-0.6%, 0.3%-0.5% for P; 1.5%-5.0%, 0.8%-2.2% for K; 0.4%-2.5%, 1.5%-5.5%, for Ca; 0.13%-0.4%, 0.2%-1.0% for Mg; 35-200 mg/kg, 60-200 mg/kg for Fe; 10-100 mg/kg, 25-150 mg/kg for Zn; 40-600 mg/kg, 25-200 mg/kg for Mn; and 4-20 mg/ kg, 5-20 mg/kg for Cu.…”