BORON DEFICIENCY IN RAINFED WHEAT IN PAKISTAN: INCIDENCE,SPATIAL VARIABILITY AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES |
| |
| Authors: | A Rashid E Rafique A U Bhatti J Ryan N Bughio S K Yau |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Land Resources Research Institute , National Agricultural Research Center , Islamabad, Pakistan;2. Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences , NWFP Agricultural University , Peshawar, Pakistan;3. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) , Aleppo, Syria;4. Faculty of Agricultural &5. Food Sciences , American University of Beirut , Beirut, Lebanon |
| |
| Abstract: | Boron (B) deficiency is potentially an important nutrient constraint in calcareous soils. We determined B deficiency incidence and spatial distribution in rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 1.82 Mha Pothohar plateau in Pakistan, its relationship with soil types, crop responses to B, and internal B requirement and B fertilizer use efficiency of wheat. Plant and soil analyses indicated deficiency in 64% of the 61 sampled fields; geostatistics-aided contour maps delineated B deficient areas. In rainfed field experiments, B use increased wheat yields up to 11%. Fertilizer requirement was 1.2 kg B ha?1; critical B concentration (mg kg?1) ranges were: young whole shoots, 4–6; flag leaves, 5–7. Boron uptake by wheat was 0.14–0.58% of applied dosage, leaving substantial residual impact. Highly cost-effective B use or B-efficient genotype adoption can enhance wheat productivity and grower-income. Such effective nutrient assessment and management approaches can be beneficially adopted elsewhere as well. |
| |
| Keywords: | boron deficiency wheat calcareous soils spatial variability plant analysis boron-use efficiency |
|
|
