Bulk blends give farmers the flexibility to prepare only the necessary amount of fertilizers with just the right ratio of nutrients for a given field. However, bulk blending can also cause headaches when issues including dust, caking, and product segregation arise.
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of products to choose from as you’re planning your fertilization program. From various blends of granular and powder to liquid formulations, there are numerous nutrient variables. How can you cut through the clutter to find out what you really need?
Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for all plant species. In agriculture, boron is one of the most deficient minerals in soil around the world.
Boron (B) deficiency is directly affected by boron mobility or immobility in plants. In those species in which boron is immobile in the phloem, foliar-applied boron will not be translocated from the site of application. This means there is not enough boron to adequately supply the plant cells that are required for tissue formation. In those species where boron is immobile via phloem, boron must be applied via soil.
Soil plays a major role in determining the availability of boron in plants. Boron is taken up by plant roots from the soil solution. Learn about the science behind boron adsorption and deficiency.
Katherine Warington was a pioneering scientist whose work on boron and its importance in plant nutrition has had a lasting impact on the field of agriculture.
Boron deficiency can significantly affect crop yields. This is especially prevalent in South America, particularly agriculture-rich Brazil, where most soils test at low levels of boron.
In my first borates primer post, I discussed the different types of borates, solubility by type, and the types of borax U.S. Borax produces. In this post, I’ll cover how borate solubility affects plant absorption and recent research in the field.
Maximum commodity crop yields call for both micro and macronutrients to be available when and where a plant requires them. As one of eight essential micronutrients, boron is critical to reaching corn and soybean crop yield potential.
Boron deficiency can make it extremely difficult for a plant to grow to its full potential. Most plants are not able to remobilize boron from old to new tissue as with other nutrients, such as nitrogen. Understanding whether a nutrient is mobile or immobile in plants and the available solutions to correct boron deficiency can help you overcome this problem and enjoy a fruitful harvest.