Bangladesh

Boron for Crop Production in Bangladesh 

Agriculture contributes nearly 20% of the national GDP of Bangladesh and employs more than 60% of the population. Three main crops—rice, jute, and tea—comprise most of the country’s exports, although Bangladeshi farmers produce sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, and a variety of fruits and vegetables for the domestic market.

Rice, the primary crop, is a staple of the Bangladeshi diet, although wheat is growing in importance. Because of Bangladesh's fertile soil and plentiful water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas.

Farming in Bangladesh is heavily dependent on the weather. Frequent flooding, improper fertilizer distribution, and the continuous production of high-yield crops such as rice have reduced the availability of naturally occurring boron in the soil. That results in boron deficiency, which hurts crop yield and health. 

To correct, farmers must use high-quality boron fertilizers for crop production.

Boron for Key Regional Crops

Indian Mustard

Boron deficiency causes young mustard leaves to become deformed and curled. With the right boron fertilizer for Indian mustard, you can correct deficiencies and avoid these symptoms. 

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Rice

Boron is immobile in rice crops. Because it doesn't move to new growth, a foliar boron fertilizer must be applied to avoid boron deficiency symptoms appearing on leaves. 

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Wheat

Boron deficiency causes similiar symptoms on wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Ensuring there's sufficient levels of boron for wheat production is crucial. 

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Improve Soil Conditions with Boron Fertilizer

Supplementation with a high-quality, water-soluble boron fertilizer can help Bangladeshi farmers maximize small land holdings and shift production from rice to higher-value crops. This can significantly reduce malnutrition, increase incomes, and create more and better on-farm and non-farm jobs. 

Ultimately, boron is important for agriculture and its advancement in Bangladesh. 

 

Test for zinc deficiency

Farmers with deficient levels of boron in soil should also test their soil for low zinc content. Testing for zinc deficiency is especially important for crops such as rice, which is highly sensitive to zinc deficiency. 

Because both boron and zinc deficiency are widespread in Bangladesh, we developed Zincubor®, a zinc borate fertilizer which provides a 2:1 zinc-to-boron ratio that satisfies most crops' demands. 

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U.S. Borax, part of Rio Tinto, is a global leader in the supply and science of borates—naturally-occurring minerals containing boron and other elements. We are 1,000 people serving 650 customers with more than 1,800 delivery locations globally. We supply around 30% of the world’s need for refined borates from our world-class mine in Boron, California, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Learn more about Rio Tinto.

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