Crop guides

crop guides

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Cereals and sugarcane

Corn crops typically display irregular kernel distribution and reduced growth as initial signs of boron deficiency. Rice and other grains (such as wheat, barley, oats, and rye) can suffer from chlorosis and plant sterility. In sugar cane, lack of sufficient boron often causes lesions, necrosis, and poor leaf development.

Barley

Corn

Millet

Oats

Rice

Rye

Sorghum

Sugarcane

Wheat

Crops for beverages

Misshapen leaves and malformed or dead buds and growing points are primary symptoms of boron deficiency in cocoa, coffee, hops, and tea. Boron is essential for healthy flowering and seed set, as well as successful root formation.

Agave

Cocoa

Coffee

Hops

Tea

Drug, fumitory, and masticatory crops

Stunted growth, decreased seedpod formation, and abnormal flowering can all result from boron deficiency in crops such as fenugreek, kola, poppy, and tobacco. Lack of sufficient boron can also make these plants more susceptible to fungal and bacterial problems.

Fenugreek

Kola

Poppy

Tobacco

Fiber crops

Cotton yield can suffer significantly without adequate boron. Symptoms in other fiber crops include malformed or necrotic leaves as well as yellow spots and petiole collapse.

Cotton

Kenaf

Sisal

Flowers and ornamentals

Boron deficiency can be especially devastating to flower growers. Symptoms include malformed leaves, abortive flower development, stunted stems, misshapen flower petals. Hollow stems and necrosis can also occur.

Areca palm

Azalea

Begonia

Carnation

Chrysanthemum

Geranium

Gerbera

Gladiolus

India rubber plant

Larkspur

Nasturtium

Poinsettia

Rose

Tulip

Forage crops

Crops require adequate boron for nodulation and nitrogen fixation, as well as proper root growth. In clovers, boron deficiency typically shows up in stunted seed production, as this micronutrient is vital for proper pollen germination and pollen tube growth.

Alfalfa

Bermudagrass

Buffel grass

Clovers

Kale

Leucaena leucocephala

Lotononis bainesii

Mustard

Neonotonia wightii

Panicum

Paspalum

Perennial African grass

Phaseolus atropurpureus

Rhodes grass

Townsville stylo

Trefoil

Fruit and nut crops

Without enough boron, fruit and nut trees typically suffer dieback of branches, premature fruit drop, and poor nut or fruit development as well as cracked or misshapen fruit. Leaf necrosis and chlorosis also occur.

Acerola

Almond

Aonla

Apples

Apricot

Avocado

Banana

Blackberry

Blueberry

Cashew

Cherimoya

Cherry

Citrus

Currant (red)

Date palm

Dragon fruit

Durian

Figs

Grapes

Papaya

Peach

Pear

Pecan

Pineapple

Pistachio

Plum

Raspberry

Strawberry

Walnut

Oil crops

Coconut, oil palm, and other oil crops suffer frond and leaf malformation, particularly hook leaf and leaflet shatter. In olive crops, growers might see premature fruit drop. Peanut growers often see hollow heart as a result of boron deficiency. Similar issues affect other oil crops.

Canola

Coconut

Indian mustard

Linseed / Flax

Oil palm

Olive

Peanut

Soybean

Sunflower

Tung

Root and tuber crops

Boron deficiency in roots and tubers can cause discoloration, deformation, and necrosis. Crop quality suffers as a result, and plant death can also occur.

Carrot

Cassava

Fodder beet

Japanese radish

Mangold

Parsnip

Potato

Red or garden beet

Rutabaga

Sugar beet

Swede

Sweet potato

Turnip

Shade trees for tea

Without sufficient boron, shade trees can suffer dieback, malformed leaves, cracked bark, and excessive side-shoot growth. Silver oak trees can also suffer necrosis of the cambium.

Dadap

Silver oak

Trees and cover crops

In trees, boron deficiency often causes cracked bark, malformed leaves, and branch dieback. Defoliation and death can also occur.

Birch

Eastern cottonwood

Eucalyptus

Holly

Kauri

Leguminous cover crops

Mulberry

Pines

Rubber

Wattle

Vegetable crops

Wilting shoots, poor bud development, bud death, swollen stems, and pith cavities are all signs of boron deficiency in a variety of vegetables. Plant dwarfing and death can occur. Lack of boron not only reduces yield, it can severely damage the quality of existing plants.

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