OF Dec Jan 2020

Boron for
GROWING
Organic Crops
Both Soils and Crops Need Adequate Boron to
Balance Nutrient Utilization
BY NEAL KINSEY, Kinsey Agricultural Services
The previous article provided the
first in a series to be published in
Organic Farmer on both soil needs
and plant response for trace elements or
micronutrients.
More often than not, the soils we
receive to be analyzed for growing all
types of crops are deficient in several
micronutrients, but the one that requires
constant vigilance to assure the
greatest success is boron. Like nitrogen
and sulfur, boron can be leached from
the soil. So, just as is true concerning
sulfur, farmers and growers should
test for boron content in the soil and
generally expect it to be required to
correct soil needs accordingly from
year to year.
Although it should be, boron is not
usually considered as a necessary addition
for growing most crops including
corn, soybeans, wheat, vegetables and
even pastures. Without adequate boron,
more nitrogen is needed in order to
produce the same amount of growth.
Consequently, it needs to be present
in sufficient amounts as plants begin
to grow and throughout the growing
season. Still, it is always best to apply
boron to the land based on actual needs
as established by a reliable soil test,
not by guessing whether it is or is not
needed.
Calcium and Boron
Based on the test we use, the minimum
boron level in any soil should be no
lower than 0.8 ppm. But because it can
be easily leached with rainfall or irrigation
water, enough material should
be applied to build for a higher level,
and 1.5 to 2.0 ppm is considered ideal.
Excellent boron levels are only most effective
when there is sufficient calcium
and phosphorous. Though it can still
be helpful, there is no need to expect
the best response from boron under circumstances
where either one of these
elements is not at sufficient levels.
In fact, calcium and boron work together
in the soil as plants need sufficient
calcium to take up adequate boron, and
enough boron is needed in the soil to
assure that calcium is taken up by the
Continued on Page 12
10 Organic Farmer December/January 2020