Effects of boron fertilization on calcium:boron ratio and boron mobility in cauliflower Chander Girish1,*, Sharma Sandeep2, Sharma Vivek2, Sharma Sheetal3, Verma Sudhir4, Verma TS5 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. *Corresponding author: g.chander@cgiar.org
Online published on 24 July, 2014. 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. Top Keywords Boron mobility, Ca:B ratio, Cauliflower, Farm yard manure. Top |