PLANT SYMPTOMS OF BORON DEFICIENCY AND THE EFFECTS OF BORAX ON THE YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SEVERAL CROPS

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Abstract
Several crops were grown on either a B-deficient soil or on B-deficient quartz sand, and, on similar substrates to which borax had been added. An insufficient supply of B for root crops was evidenced by the distortion and premature death of the central leaves, by the formation of numerous small leaves, and by the breakdown of the root tissue cells. Formation of corky tissue, sloughed-out areas (cankers), and water-soaked areas (brown-heart) accompanied or followed the breakdown of the root tissue cells. Barley, wheat, and corn matured later and failed to develop seeds normally when B was lacking. Dandelions with an insufficient supply of B failed to bloom. The tissue of plants inadequately supplied with B contained, in most cases, higher percentages of Ca, N, Mg. and Fe than the tissue of plants grown in the presence of sufficient B. The greatest differences in composition occurred in the contents of N and Fe. The K content was not greatly altered by the plant''s response to B. Borax applied to the soil, in all cases, increased the B content of the plants. Plants with characteristic B-deficiency symptoms were low in B content.

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