Evaluation of Extractants for Boron under the Influence of Organic Matter and Applied Boron in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils Growing Rape (Brassica campestris L.)

Abstract

Field experiments during 2006–07 and 2007–08 were conducted in an Aeric Endoaquept to evaluate extractants suitable for boron (B) under the influence of organic matter and B in both rhizosphere (R) and nonrhizosphere (NR) soils with rape (Brassica campestris L.) as a test crop. The results reveal that the average B content in Mehlich 3 (MH-3) B was greatest (0.791 mg kg⁻¹) in NR soil, while that of the same in R soil was greatest (0.785 mg kg⁻¹) with Mannitol–calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (MCC) followed by hot -CaCl₂ (HCC, 0.750 mg kg⁻¹) in the treatment T₄ where NPK (80:40:40), B at 0.5 kg ha⁻¹, and farmyard manure (FYM) at 5 t ha⁻¹ were applied together. Based on linear regressions and correlations between different extractants and yield responses, the MH-3 extractant gave the greatest value of co-efficient of determination (R² = 0.36**, r = 0.598**) and has proved to be a superior extracting solution for B in NR in an Aeric Endoaquept. The results further suggested that the extractability of B with these three extractants did not have any control over rhizosphere soil zone.

Keywords:

• Boron extractants
• nonrhizosphere
• rape
• rhizosphere

Acknowledgment

The first author is grateful to M/S Aries Agro Service Ltd., Mumbai, for providing financial support in the form of a fellowship for carrying out the present investigation.