Soil Boron—There's a Serious Lack in Many Soils

The most common soil micronutrient deficiency in the soil is boron. Therefore, always have a professional soil test done before applying any type of organic fertilizer or soil amendment.

That way you'll know that what you're adding to your soil is exactly what it needs.

Boron is associated with soil organic matter.

With many years of tilling our lands, the organic matter in the soil has decreased, and therefore, the principal source of boron has also substantially decreased.

Since the amount of boron in the soil is directly proportional to the amount of organic matter, crops that are highly fertilized tend to have smaller amounts of boron.

This is because chemical fertilizers reduce the levels of organic matter in soils.

As the soil pH increases above 6.5, the amount of boron in the soil decreases. High rainfall amounts also affect boron levels, as the element is leached from the soil.

Most crops require approximately 2-3 lb per acre (2.25-3.4 kg per hectare).

Symptoms of Boron Deficiency

boron deficiency symptoms in an apple
Photo courtesy of Mary Ann Hansen,
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org
  • Parts growing abnormally.
  • Leaves are thicker and wrinkled.
  • Leaves are a darker color.
  • The plant is brittle because of poor cell wall formation.
  • Grasses have spiral or twisted leaves.
  • Broad leaf plants have malformed tips.
  • The stems of broccoli are hollow.

Interactions With Other Elements

For proper plant growth, calcium and boron must be in balance. However, watermelon requires a high amount of calcium and a regular amount of boron.

Phosphorus will not move into cells properly when there's a low amount of boron. Plants that are low in it will not adsorb phosphorus properly at the roots.

Too high levels of nitrogen and potassium will decrease the Calcium ratio in plants, which will affect the plants take-up of boron.

Boron-Needy Plants

If you're growing any of the crops below and see any of the symptoms noted above, you'll need to perform a soil test and then apply the necessary amount of boron.

  • Turnips
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Cabbage
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Alfalfa
  • Clover
  • Asparagus
  • Sugar beet
  • Celery
  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Grape

Overcoming Boron Deficiencies

You can overcome soil deficiencies with foliar sprayings. Or apply boron to the soil before planting, and then side dress during the growing season.

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