Response of soybean to foliar‐applied boron and magnesium and soil‐applied boron1

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Abstract
Annual plants may partition carbon (C) preferentially to reproductive structures slowing root elongation and subsequent nutrient uptake. Although foliar applications of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) supplement uptake by roots, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield increases have not been found in most studies. Experiments were designed to determine if foliar applications of boron (B), magnesium (Mg), or B+Mg would increase soybean yield and if soybean would respond to B applied to the soil several weeks prior to planting. Foliar B or Mg applied separately four times during reproductive growth did not affect soybean yield. However, four foliar applications of B+Mg increased soybean yield 12% at Mt. Vernon and 4% at Columbia over a three‐year period. Two foliar applications of B+Mg during the late reproductive stages increased soybean yield 8% over a two‐year period. The yield increase from foliar B+Mg treatment resulted from an increased number of pods on the main stem (18%) and branches (44%). A 2.8 kg/ha B application to soil eight weeks prior to planting increased soybean yield 11% during the first year and 13% the second year but had no effect on soybean yield by the third year after application. When results from the first two years were combined, 2.8 kg/ha B applied to soil increased the number of pods per branch by 17% and the number of branch pods per plant by 39%. Foliar applications of B+Mg increased soybean yield in four of six site‐years in the three‐year experiments at two locations.