- Plants initially may not exhibit obvious symptoms of nutrient deficiencies other than a slower growth rate, which may be due to other factors.
- When moderate or severe nutrient deficiencies occur, most crops exhibit visible symptoms which are typical for deficiencies of a particular nutrient.
- Knowledge of boron-deficiency symptoms can help in diagnosing deficiencies.
- Symptoms should be confirmed with results of soil tests and plant analyses, and appropriate corrective action taken.
Visible boron deficiency symptoms for many crops are listed in the PDF version of this agronomy note. Such symptoms become clearly visible when the deficiency is acute. At this point growth and yield may be severely limited. For crops not listed, general boron deficiency symptoms include chlorosis, necrosis, and deformations on young leaves and at growing points.
Knowledge of boron deficiency symptoms can help in diagnosing deficiencies
Boron sufficiency ranges in upper mature leaves before flowering or fruiting are provided for many crops. Plant tissue samples with boron levels in these ranges are not likely to exhibit visual symptoms. However, tissue levels in this range may not be adequate for maximum yield and quality.
Diagnoses from visible symptoms should be confirmed with results of soil tests and plant tissue analyses.
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