Influence of foliage applied boron on yield and related traits of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) [electronic resource]:

Includes references.

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for higher plants. However, in calcareous soils its availability is low due to adsorption; therefore, foliar application of B is considered a feasible approach. There exists a very narrow range between deficiency and excess. This study was designed to optimize the B concentration in a foliar spray and to determine the influence of foliar application of boronon improving grain yield and yield related wheat (Triticum aestivum) traits. Two concentrations of B foliar spray i.e. 0.01 and 0.05M B solutions (using borax as source of boron) and a water foliar application (control) were compared on two wheat cultivars: Faisalabad-2008 and Lasani-2008. Foliar fertilization treatments and control were applied 50 days after sowing. Foliar application of 0.01M B solution had significantly improved wheat yield and yield related parameters. Greater productive tillers (33.12 per pot), spike length (8.64cm), spikelets per spike (17.29), grains per spike (42.23), 100-grains weight (4.90g), grain yield (7.03g per pot) and biological yield (11.92 g per pot) were recorded where plants were foliar sprayed with 0.01M B solution than control (water spray). The 0.05M B solution application was toxic and suppressed growth and yield of wheat. In conclusion, B foliage applied 0.01M at 50 days after sowing may help to overcome the plant B requirements and improve grain yield of bread wheat.
Keywords: Boron, Foliar application, Wheat, Yield, Yield components.

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