Boron Deficiency in Peppers
When compared to other vegetables, peppers require a higher level of boron. Symptoms of boron deficiency in pepper plants usually first appears in the leaves, including:
• Loss of color
• Yellowing
• Cupping
• Thickening of leaves near the growth point
When boron deficiency becomes more severe, pepper plants may exhibit the following symptoms:
• Early-stage flower bud termination
• Flower, leaf and/or fruit bud drop
• Stunted, underdeveloped root nodules
• Shoot apical meristem death resulting in dwarfed plants
• Uneven fruit maturity, brown or black marks, deformation, cracking, and cork
How much boron is enough?
Only a small quantity of boron is needed to correct boron deficiency. A soil test can help determine how much boron may be needed. In addition, excess calcium and soil pH can affect boron uptake.
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