Critical levels of boron in lowland soils for culture of bean

Abstract

This experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions with the objective of determining the inferior (equivalent to 90% of the maximum grain yield) and the superior critical levels (equivalent to decrease of 10% of the maximum grain yield) of B in the soil as well as in the top of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivated in lowland soils samples. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications, in a factorial scheme, using four types of soils (Low Humic Gley, Alluvial, Humic Gley and Bog Soil) and seven B doses (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.50, 3.0, 6.0 and 10.0 mg dm^-3). The soil samples were incubated with lime, macro and micronutrients including B, during 24 days. The soil samples were then submitted to B extraction with four extractant solutions: BaCl₂ 0.125%, Mehlich I, hot water, and 0.01 mol L^-1 CaCl₂. Three plants were cultivated in pots containing three dm³ of treated soil. Boron contents of plant shoots at the flowering period and grain dry matter yield at the end of the cycle were determined. In soils, the inferior critical levels varied from 0.57 to 1.87 mg dm^-3 and the superior ones varied from 1.89 to 4.65 mg dm^-3. In plants, the inferior critical levels varied from 44.2 to 68.1 mg kg^-1 and the superior ones from 143.6 to 199.1 mg kg^-1