Extractability of available boron and its sequential fractionation in alkaline calcareous soils of India

ABSTRACT

The evaluation of different extractants for boron (B) estimation and the study of different boron pools is of utmost importance for the effective use of native and soil applied B. For evaluation of different extractants in diverse soils, twenty-one soil samples varying in soil properties were analyzed to estimate chemical pools of B and available B by using extractants (NH₄OAc, AB-DTPA, hot and cold CaCl₂, tartaric acid, HCl, mannitol, and hot water soluble). Available B extracted by the most commonly used method (HWS-B) was significantly and positively correlated with that extracted by other reagents (r = 0.772** to 0.905**) and the maximum value was observed with HCC-B (r = 0.917**) followed by Mann-B (0.905**). The amount of B in readily soluble, specifically adsorbed, oxide bound, organically bound and residual mineral fraction varied from 0.17 to 2.71, 0.14 to 1.77, 0.31 to 5.88, 0.56 to 7.42 and 0.17 to 2.71% of total B in soils, respectively. Thus, HCC and Mann methods can be used as extracting reagent of B in alkaline calcareous soils instead of HWS.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemical pools
• extractants
• HWS-B

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical facilities provided by Head, Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The senior author is grateful for the financial assistance provided by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India in the form of INSPIRE-DST fellowship.