BORON UTILIZATION BY POTATO IN NUTRIENT CULTURES AND IN FIELD PLANTINGS

Analysis of soil and plant tissue for boron (B) is routine, but more information is needed to clarify the interpretations of test results as a basis for B fertilization of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Experiments were conducted in nutrient cultures and in the field to relate the utilization of B by potato plants to visual symptoms of deficiency and toxicity. Without added B the nutrient cultures produced B-deficient potato plants, but the field plots with 0.3 to 0.4 mg of hot water soluble B/kg of soil did not. Plant shoots from nutrient cultures had a minimum of 13 mg B/kg as compared with plants in field plots with 30 mg B/kg in vines. Concentrations to 50 mg B/kg of dry matter were obtained in plant shoots from nutrient cultures with 1 mg B/L added and in field-grown plants fertilized with 2.2 kg B/ha. Toxicity to B appeared or was eminent from either adding 3 mg B/L or more to nutrient solutions or 4.5 kg B/ha or more to the field plots. These results suggest the feasibility of developing critical nutrient (sufficiency) ranges for 3 in plant shoots and vines. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.