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Boron Fertilization Influences on Soybean Yield and Leaf and Seed Boron Concentrations
Author(s) -
Ross Joni R.,
Slaton Nathan A.,
Brye Kristofor R.,
DeLong Russell E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2005-0131
Subject(s) - loam , human fertilization , boron , fertilizer , agronomy , yield (engineering) , nutrient , biology , nitrogen , zoology , chemistry , soil water , ecology , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
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.