Boron is an essential micronutrient that performs important functions in cultivated plants and is considered a limiting nutrient in most regions of the country, especially in sandy soil conditions with a low organic matter content. For plants that are very sensitive to boron deficiency, such as beans, good management of this nutrient can increase crop productivity by up to 24%. Therefore, understanding the particularities of this micronutrient is essential to carry out assertive management and achieve greater profitability. With this in mind, we will cover technical information to better understand this nutrient with a focus on high productivity.
To carry out adequate management, understanding the main functions of this nutrient is essential. The main functions of Boron in plants are:
• Acts on pollen tube growth and pollen germination and cell wall synthesis;
• Increases plant energy (ATPase) and production and transport of sugars;
• Helps in the osmotic management of the plant (Water absorption);
• Improves the setting of flowers and pods and plant growth;
• Improves the formation of the cell wall of nitrogen-fixing nodules in plant roots;
• Reduces levels of toxic substances within plants caused by damage from pathogens and insects and the impacts caused by aluminum toxicity to crop roots.
In addition to better understanding the functions of Boron in plants, it is important to know how to identify a deficiency or excess of this nutrient in your crops.
The identification of Boron deficiency or excess in your crop must be carried out using a set of techniques already known in everyday field life, such as: visual analysis, soil analysis and analysis of vegetative parts (mainly leaves). Soil and vegetative parts analysis must be carried out periodically on your farm, following the recommendations of a laboratory specialized in fertility analysis in your region. Pay attention when collecting, as it is very important that the depths and number of soil samples carried out in your area accurately represent the reality of your property. This will be essential for a good nutritional recommendation.
Regarding the collection of vegetative materials, it is very important to respect the recommendations of the stage and parts collected for each crop.
For the visual analysis of symptoms of Boron deficiency or excess, constant monitoring of your crop is essential. In this sense, we have separated the main symptoms of Boron deficiency in plants:
• Change in the color of the leaves;
• Floral abortion (mainly on leaves in the lower third);
• Accumulation of nitrogenous substances in parts of plants (mainly in older leaves);
• Reduced root growth;
• Fruit deformation;
• Decrease in leaf area;
• Decrease in chlorophyll concentration;
• Decreased resistance to infections;
• Cracks in branches, petioles, leaves and fruits;
• Growth reduction and deformation;
• Death of the apical bud.
Excess boron generally causes total yellowing of plants, and this chlorosis can evolve into necrosis on the edges of older leaves.
Due to the smaller amount of Boron required by crops, uniform distribution via the soil ends up being a very difficult task as excess Boron in some parts of your crop, in addition to causing the symptoms seen previously, can interfere with the absorption and use of other nutrients, like calcium for example. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the availability of Boron in the soil is influenced by the pH and the presence of organic matter in your crop. Therefore, many producers have chosen to apply Boron in the planting furrow, to ensure better distribution and prevent large volumes of rain from reaching the applied Boron (which would cause leaching). However, even with good soil management, the application of foliar Boron will still be necessary as Boron is absorbed via mass flow and tends to accumulate in areas of greatest photosynthetic activity, that is, in the upper third of the plant.
Boron is considered a naturally immobile nutrient via the phloem, so when we carry out a foliar application we need this nutrient to reach all parts of the plant, which ends up being very difficult in more advanced stages of development, where Boron ends up being more required. Therefore, when choosing a product for this modality, opt for formulations that, through the use of technology, provide greater mobility of the nutrient in the plant (translocation via phloem). This way you don't just apply a nutrient to the plant, but you nourish the plant.
In addition to working with good formulations, you must know how to apply Boron to plants efficiently. To do this, you must use good application technology, which guarantees good coverage of the target and the recommended dose. Applying in ideal climatic conditions will ensure greater efficiency in your application.
Products that have a low level of technology used in their formulations can cause several problems in the composition of their syrup, such as:
• Unwanted changes in pH;
• Chelatization of other products;
• Flocculation;
• Foam formation.
Thinking about greater productivity in your plantation, we recommend investing in technologies that guarantee the efficiency of the other products in your syrup.
Henrique Placido, agronomist at BRANDT do Brasil
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Boron is a mineral element described as essential, this means that in its absence, plants do not complete their physiological cycle, generating a seed (offspring) capable of germinating and developing. In addition to being and
