Effect of soil application of boron on growth, yield and soil properties of lowland paddy

Abstract

Boron (B) is an essential micro nutrient and its deficiency caused a reduction in final crop harvest and yield. A field experiment was conducted during 2010-11 to 2014-15 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Igatpuri, Dist. Nasik (Maharashtra) to study the effect of soil application of boron on growth, yield and soil properties of lowland paddy. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with five treatment replicated four times. The doses of borax were 0 kg, 2.5 kg, 5.0 kg, 7.5 kg and 10 kg per hectare respectively. The soils of the site were shallow laterite having pH 6.7, low in soil available N and K2O and moderate in available P2O5. The soil available B (hot water soluble) was ranges between 0.292 to 0.412 ppm. The pooled data revealed that treatment T5 (Soil application of borax @10 kgha-1) produced significantly higher grain (43.45 q ha-1) and straw yield (51.91 q ha-1), however it was at par with treatment T3 (Soil application of borax @ 5 kg ha-1) and T4 (Soil application of borax @ 7.5 kg ha-1). It was recommended to apply 5 kg borax ha-1 in boron deficient soils at the time of transplanting for higher yield and returns of paddy.