Boron nutrition of carrots and table beets grown in a boron deficient soil

Abstract

Abstract Soil applications of boron (B) generally had little effect on yield of carrots (Daucus carota L.) and beets (Beta vulgaris L.) in a field study. However, in a greenhouse study B significantly increased the yield of carrots. Boron deficiency impaired the quality of both crops. Boron deficient beets had brown tops and roots were rough, scaby, and off colour. There was a depression on the sides of most of the beet roots and cut sections of affected roots were darker and necrotic compared to bright purplish red roots grown with sufficient B. In carrots, B deficiency resulted in yellow tops and the roots were both rough and small with a distinct white core in the middle. Leaf tissue B concentrations of 32–40 μg/g in beets and 22–28 μg/g in carrots were related to B deficiency. Tissue B levels as high as 121 μg/g in beets and 149 μg/g in carrots were not associated with any B toxicity. Applications of B had no effect on tissue Ca and Mg concentration in the two crops.