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The Effect of Some Trace Elements on the Yield and Composition of Alfalfa and Oats in Minnesota
Author(s) -
Mulvehill John F.,
MacGregor John M.
Publication year - 1955
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1955.03615995001900020023x
Subject(s) - boron , agronomy , manganese , soil water , yield (engineering) , composition (language) , zinc , chemistry , copper , metallurgy , environmental science , materials science , soil science , biology , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
Applications of soluble boron, manganese, zinc, and copper to the soil of 13 experimental fields on several important soil types produced no significant effect on the yield of either alfalfa or of oats. However, the first cutting yield of one field of an alfalfa‐grass mixture was significantly increased by applying boron. The water soluble (available) boron was largely concentrated in the surface six inches of soil, with the 12 to 24‐in. depth averaging less than half as much soluble boron. None of the experimental field soils was alkaline. One soil in east central Minnesota approached the “critical” level of soluble boron content. The soils of this area are known to be boron deficient for rutabaga production. There was little positive correlation between the soluble boron content of the soil and total boron in oat grain. Applying boron at three rates significantly increased the boron content of oat grain, but not in either alfalfa or alfalfa‐grass mixtures.