Plant require C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca,Mg, S, B, Ca ,Cu ,Zn, Mo, Mn, Fe for their flowering, ripening, growth and development. Among them, Boron (B) is micronutrient which is required in relatatively small amount (Less than 0.1 percent dry weight of plant tissue) in most of plant. But exceptionally Boron requirement is higher in cruciferae plant (cabbage, califlower, raddish, mustard). Cruciferae mostly show Boron deficiency so it is better to apply boron before sowing seed in a field.
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| Dead Heart Disease of Cauliflower |
Boron is required for pollen tube growth, pollen germination, fertilization and fruiting. Malformation of fruit is mostly seen in cruciferae due to Boron deficiency. Dead heart of cauliflower, black heart of raddish, etc are commonly seen problem in a field.
Decrease in number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod ,thousand seed weight, pod length and plant height is seen in Brassica campestres, B.napus and B. juncea. In a research, scientist had found that the yield attributing character of cruciferae has increased upto 45% due to Boron. (Reference: Response of mustard varieties to Boron application, M.A Hossain, Bangladesh march 2012)
“In our raddish cultivation field, we have seen drastically growth difference of plant in Boron applied and controlled plot providing all other nutrient in a same amount .The plot in which Boron is applied at 10gm/m2 has dark colour leaf, larger sized leaf, vigrous growth and greater root area. On the other hand , raddish grown in absence of Boron has stunted growth, small leaf size, pale green leaf colour and root extension is limited.” says a Farmer.
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| Boron Applied Radish Field |
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| Radish Field without Boron |
So, our trial as well as from International Journals about Boron application in cruciferae, we have found that Boron appication is extremely essential before cruciferae cultivation. Foliar application of Boron is also not a bad idea but Soil application of Boron before cultivation is better one. Generally 100Kg Boron/hectare is applicable in almost all type of soil, Boron toxicity to cruciferae plant is impossible in this amount. Nowadays in Nepalese market Boron is found as Na2B4O7, H3BO3 as a solution or powder form.