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Boron stem infusions stimulate soybean yield by increasing pods on lateral branches
1Interdisciplinary Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211.
Plant Physiology
|August 1, 1987
Summary
Supplemental boron (B) significantly boosted soybean yield by increasing lateral pods and seed weight. Calcium (Ca) treatments appeared to worsen boron deficiency effects on yield.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Physiology
- Soil Science
Background:
- Soybean yield can be limited by nutrient availability.
- Boron (B) and Calcium (Ca) are essential plant nutrients.
- Stem infusion is a method for delivering nutrients directly to plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of supplemental Boron (B) and Calcium (Ca) on soybean yield.
- To determine if B and Ca can enhance yield by increasing pods, seed number, and seed weight.
- To assess the impact of stem-infused B and Ca on soybean productivity.
Main Methods:
- Soybean plants were treated with supplemental Boron (H(3)BO(3)) and Calcium (CaCl(2)) via stem infusion.
- Yield parameters including lateral pods, seed number, and total seed weight were measured.
- Comparison was made between B/Ca treated plants and injected control plants.
Main Results:
- Boron treatments resulted in an 84.8% increase in lateral pods per plant.
- Boron treatments led to a 17.6% increase in total seed weight per plant.
- Boron-treated plants yielded 4170 kg/ha, compared to 3540 kg/ha in controls, suggesting B deficiency limited control yield. Calcium treatments exacerbated yield reductions associated with apparent B deficiency.
Conclusions:
- Supplemental Boron (B) significantly enhances soybean yield components and overall seed yield.
- Boron deficiency may be a critical limiting factor for soybean productivity in certain conditions.
- Calcium (Ca) may negatively interact with Boron (B) uptake or utilization, potentially reducing yield when B is deficient.
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