Distribution of Boron in Soil, Water and Plant Samples of Malerkotla Block of Sangrur District (Punjab)

Fifteen soil profiles were studied in Malerkotla block for distribution of B in surface and sub-surface layers. Eighteen sub-soil water and 21 plant samples were collected from the same area for the analysis of B content. Average values for total B were 34.1, 41.1 and 28.4 ppm in saline sodic, sodic and normal soils, respectively. pH, org. C, CaCO₃, silt + clay and sand showed no relationship with total boron content. The mean values of water soluble boron in saline-sodic, sodic and normal soils were 2.9, 1.3 and 0.8 ppm, respectively. It had significant positive correlation with EC and pH (r = 0.63, 0.64). The relationship with silt, clay and CaCO₃ were positively significant, while negatively significant correlation was observed with sand and org. C but these had low prediction values (r² = 0.05 to 0.17). Boron averaged to 0.18 ppm in sub-soil water and 23.5 ppm in fodder samples. Uptake of B by plants bears positive significant correlation (r=0.98) with available boron content of soils.