Journal of Research

Open Access
UGC CARE (Group 1)
  • Year: 2014
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue: 2

Effects of boron fertilization on calcium:boron ratio and boron mobility in cauliflower

  • Author:
  • Girish Chander1,, Sandeep Sharma2, Vivek Sharma2, Sheetal Sharma3, Sudhir Verma4, TS Verma5
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 128 to 131

1Resilient Dryland Systems, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru-502324, A.P.

2Department of Soil science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004

3International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), India-Office, NASC, New Delhi -110012

4Department of Soil Science and Water Management, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan -173230, H.P.

5Department of Soil Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishav Vidyalaya, Palampur-176062, H.P.

Abstract

Greenhouse studies were conducted on two different alfisols, Bajaura (Loam) and Junga (Sandy loam), that are deficient in boron (B) for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). The calcium:boron (Ca:B) ratio in cauliflower leaves with applied B (1 to 3 mg kg−1 soil) varied from 1276 to 521 in the Bajaura soil with high exchangeable-Ca and no deficiency or toxicity symptoms were evident. In the Junga soil with low exchangeable-Ca, however, the Ca:B ratio varied from 505 to 223 with toxicity symptoms visible when 2 and 3 mg kg−1 B has been applied. This corresponds to a Ca:B ratio of 256 and 223. Farm yard manure application showed an ameliorating effect on Ca:B ratio with a tendency to decrease a high Ca:B ratio in the absence of B application and increase a lower Ca:B ratio when incorporated with higher levels of B. The B mobility from leaves to curd decreased with increasing levels of B application and thus provided a circumstantial evidence for B retranslocation under conditions of low B supply i.e. conditional mobility.

Keywords

Boron mobility, Ca:B ratio, Cauliflower, Farm yard manure