Boron: A critical micronutrient for crop growth and productivity

Abstract

Boron is important non – metal micronutrient, which is distinctive in its physiological, metabolic activity hence it is essential element for optimum crop growth and development. Boron is the second most wide spread trace element in deficient in world next to zinc. In agriculture field management of boron deficiency is a major challenged due to the narrow difference in its deficiency and toxicity. Therefore, attention should be given to boron nutrition for crop to overcome deficiency by applying boron fertilizers at proper rate, time, source, method and balancing with other nutrients in soil. Foliar application of boron at right time of crop growth shows better performance than the soil application especially in zinc deficient soil to avoid boron toxicity in crops. In case of alkaline and calcareous soil boron interacts with other nutrients and going to adsorption in soil, which affects the availability of boron to crop growth, therefore the foliar application of boron is better than soil application for these soils.