Foliar and Radicular Absorption of Boron by Beetroot and Tomato Plants

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 44; no. 9; pp. 1435 - 1443
• Main Authors: de Mello Prado, Renato, Gondim, Ancelio Ricardo de Oliveira, Cecílio Filho, Arthur Bernardes, Alves, Adriana Ursulino, Ribeiro Correia, Marcus André, Abreu-Junior, Cassio Hamilton
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis 15.05.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: absorption; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; beets; Beta vulgaris L; Biological and medical sciences; Boron; coconuts; Flowers & plants; foliar application; foliar fertilization; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Analysis and diagnosis methods; Indexing in process; Lycopersicon esculentum Mill; micronutrient; plant anatomy; plant nutrition; protected cultivation; redistribution; root systems; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Tomatoes; Beta vulgaris var. conditiva; plant nutrition; Nutrition; Foliar fertilization; Beta vulgaris L; Plant leaf; Beta vulgaris; Chenopodiaceae; Biennial plant; Boron; Absorption; Redistribution; Vegetable crop; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lycopersicon esculentum; micronutrient; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae; Lycopersicon esculentum Mill
• ISSN: 1532-2416; 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2012.762015

The isotopic technique was employed to study boron (B) mobility in tomato and beetroot plants under protected cultivation conditions. An experiment was conducted in which both species grew in 10-dm³ vases filled with coconut fiber, under hydroponic conditions. The plants were subjected to four different treatments: (1) no B in the substratum and no foliar fertilization; (2) no B in the substratum, with foliar ¹⁰B fertilization; (3) B in the substratum, with foliar ¹⁰B fertilization; and (4) ¹⁰B in the substratum and no foliar fertilization. The biological growth variables and total B and ¹⁰B contents in the plant parts grown after the application of the nutrient were evaluated. For increasing B content in young tissues, the foliar application of this element was not as efficient as application via root system, indicating low mobility of B in the tissues of both beetroot and tomato plants.