Boron, The Underrated Micronutrient
Featured in Potato Review Magazine July/August 2021
Few potato growers regularly use boron, yet thereās evidence that this often-overlooked micronutrient increases yield, dry-matter content and tuber size during the critical bulking period.
Crop scientist and founder of Levity Crop Science, Dr David Marks, said boron deficiencies rarely result in visible symptoms so many growers donāt see it as a problem, whereas those growing oilseed rape and wheat consider it as more of an issue.
āThat illustrates boronās issue – of all the nutrients, itās the most variable in how itās used. What works on one crop wonāt work in another,ā he said. āEvery potato grower chasing yield is familiar with the challenge of balancing top growth against tuber development. Vegetative growth relies on nitrogen, but rising nitrate levels stimulate the production of auxin, the plant hormone that favours further vegetative growth.
āThatās at the heart of the nitrogen management conundrum: Avoid the leggy top growth thatās associated with sub-optimal tuber development.āBut the more nitrogen a plant gets, the faster it grows and the more deficient in boron it becomes. āSoil tests might suggest healthy levels of boron, but that wonāt stop a leaf deficiency developing during periods of rapid growth,ā David said.
Intensifying this issue is boronās interaction with plant hormones. Research from Germanyās Liebniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research revealed how increases in boron favour production of cytokinins and gibberellins, the hormones that favour root development, while plants deficient in boron make higher levels of auxins.
Fail to maintain boron levels and the ānitrate effectā is increased, reducing tuber development at the expense of vegetative growth. By raising boron levels, favouring the production of cytokinins and gibberellins, the plant focuses on root and tuber development. Apply boron at the right time, says David, and the reduction in auxin synthesis puts a brake on vegetative growth.
To continue reading please see the potato review magazine article here:
Contact:
David Marks
david@levitycropscience.com
0044 (0)7956 273 127
0044 (0)1995 642 351