Boron Tolerance Studies in Gram and Wheat Grown on a Sierozem Sandy Soil

Boron tolerance studies in gram (Cicer arietinum var.G130) and wheat (Triticum aestivum var.K227) were made under screen house conditions. The crops were grown on a non-calcareous sierozem sandy soil, with 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3 and 6 ppm added B from borax. It was observed that relative root and shoot dry-matter production in gram was more severely inhibited than in wheat particularly at 1.5 ppm and higher soil B levels. This was, however, not reflected on the seed yield of gram as against wheat wherein relatively grain yield was more depressed than the dry-matter. Grain yield of wheat was significantly reduced by 0.5 ppm B application whereas in gram it was unaffected even at 1.5 ppm B level, which was equal (99.6%) to control as opposed to the wheat yield of 16 per cent at the same B level. However, at 6 ppm B level relative grain yield of gram was reduced to 23 per cent.

With the increase in the B content of soil, tissue Ca concentration in both the crops was significantly decreased, whereas N, P and K contents were significantly increased.