Evaluation of critical limit of boron in calcareous soil under sugarcane cultivation

A field experiment was conducted at G.S. Sugarcane breeding and research Institute, Seorahi, for consecutive three years (2009–13) to evaluate the critical limit of boron in soil and sugarcane. The study constituted eight levels of boron viz; 0 ppm, 0.5 ppm, 1.0 ppm, 1.5 ppm, 2.0 ppm, 2.5 ppm, 3.0 ppm and 3.5 ppm. The data revealed that there was no effect of these levels of boron on germination percent, tillers/ha, NMC/ha, yield MT/ha and in sucrose percent. The critical limit of boron found in soil and in plant was 0.48 ppm and 4.7 ppm respectively during the first year (2009–11), however, in second year (2010–12) the level was found to be 0.58 ppm in soil and 5.3 ppm in plant and during third year it was found to be 0.53 ppm in soil and 5.4 ppm in plant. The available boron present in soil ranges from 0.5–2.0 part per million (ppm). The average uptake of boron was 0.15 Kg/ha for each year.