Boron in Indian agriculture – A review Prasad Rajendra1,*, Kumar Dinesh2, Shivay Y.S.2, Rana D.S.2 ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012 1Ex-ICAR National Professor (Agronomy), IARI, New Delhi-110 012 2Principal Scientist, Division of Agronomy, IARI, New Delhi-110 012 *Corresponding author Email: rajmua36@gmail.com
Online published on 19 February, 2015. Abstract Boron (B) is an essential plant nutrient and its specific deficiency symptoms are well documented in several crops. Boron is essential for the development of reproductive tissues and its deficiency results in low grain set or poor quality seeds and fruits. Adequate B nutrition is reported to reduce incidence of some diseases in plants. About one-third of the cultivated soils, especially in the eastern and north-eastern states of India are deficient in B. Good responses for a number of crops to B have been reported. Borax and boric acid are the common B fertilizers. The average amounts of B removed (g/tonne grain or other economic produce) by some crops are: 21 in wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol], 22 in pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Emend. Stuntz], 36 in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], 17 in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp], 16 in cotton (Gossypium spp.), 21 in cabbage [Brassica oleracea (L.) var. capitata], 15 in cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), 14 in castor (Ricinus communis L.), 9 in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and 23 in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). Boron, possibly because of its role in lignin formation is able to reduce the incidence of several diseases in plants. High amounts of B in irrigation water could be toxic to crops and irrigation water having < 3 mg B/litre is ideal for B tolerant and semi-tolerant crops. Top Keywords Abortion of flowers, Boron, Fruit quality, Irrigation water, RNA synthesis. Top |