Influence of mid‐summer boron sprays on boron content and quality indices of ‘delicious’ Apple 1

Boron (B) is required for optimal yield and quality of apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.) but may impair fruit quality if present in excessive amounts. A field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of a single mid‐July foliar B spray (0, 11.3, 22.6 g B/tree) on the B content and postharvest quality indices of 220‐gram ‘Starking Delicious’ apples. Fruit B concentration was positively related to B application rate and ranged from 9 to 55 mg/kg dry mass (1.3 to 7.7 mg/kg fresh mass). The relative B increases were greater in the core and inner cortex than in the outer cortex and skin, suggesting that some of the applied B entered the fruit through the tree vascular system. Increasing fruit B concentrations caused minor changes in fruit external color indices L and b and internal color index b but had no effect on firmness, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, starch index, external color index a, or internal color indices L and a. None of the effects were of horticultural significance. Most fruit quality indices were influenced by postharvest sampling time and reflected typical postharvest ripening patterns. The results suggest that ‘Delicious’ apple quality is relatively insensitive to high fruit B concentrations.     

Catalase peroxidase and IAA‐oxidase activities and O‐diphenolics contents in sunflower leaves grown with different boron levels

Cataiase, peroxidase and IAA‐oxidase activities, so as odiphenolics content in sunflower leaves grown in hydroponics with 4 B levels (0.05; 0.25; 0.5 and 2.0 ppm) were determined. The biochemical assays were made when visual symptons were clearly developed.

Cataiase activity significantly increased in B deficient leaves. Peroxidase, IAA‐oxidase activities and o‐diphenolics content did not significantly change with B levels. The lag period for IAA‐oxidase activity was significantly reduced in B deficient and toxic leaves with respect to the normal ones. These results are in accordance with the hypothesis that one of the B action could be to enhance cataiase activity, the “in vivo” decrease of H₂O₂ levels beeing the cause of the variation in other enzymatic activities related with that substrate.     

Zinc‐boron interaction effects in oilseed rape

The interaction effect of applied zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on early vegetative growth and uptake of Zn and B by two oilseed rape (canola) (Brassica napus L.) genotypes was investigated in a sand culture experiment under controlled environmental conditions. Two genotypes (Yickadee and Dunkeld) were grown at three Zn levels (0.05, 0.25, and 2.0 mg kg^‐1 soil) and two B levels (0.05 mg kg^‐1 soil and 0.5 mg kg^‐1 soil). Dunkeld produced significantly higher shoot and root dry matter than Yickadee at low Zn and low B supply indicating the superiority of Dunkeld over Yickadee for tolerance to both low Zn and low B supply. Chlorophyll content of fresh leaf tissue was increased significantly by an increase in Zn and B supply. Zinc deficiency enhanced B concentration in younger and older leaves. Boron concentration was higher in older leaves than in the younger leaves irrespective of B deficiency and sufficiency indicating immobility of B in two oilseed rape genotypes tested. Zinc concentration was higher in younger leaves than in the older leaves indicating mobility of Zn. An increased supply of Zn enhanced B uptake under high boron supply only. Zinc uptake in Dunkeld was enhanced significantly with an increased rate of B supply under high Zn supply, while the effect was not significant in Yickadee. Dunkeld proved to be more efficient in Zn and B uptake than Yickadee.     

Response of summer‐planted potatoes to level of applied nitrogen and water

The irrigation and nitrogen (N) requirements of potatoes (cv. Delaware) were determined using sprinklers in a line‐source design on a Spearwood sand. Irrigation water was applied at 73 to 244% of the daily pan evaporation (Epan) and N at 0 to 800 kg N ha^‐1 (total applied) as NH₄NO₃ in 10 applications post‐planting. There was a significant yield (total and marketable) response to irrigation, at all levels of applied N, and N at all levels of applied water (P<0.001). The interaction between irrigation and N was also significant (P<0.001). There was no significant yield response to irrigation from 149% Epan (i.e., W3 treatment) to 244% Epan (i.e., W6 treatment). Irrigation at 125 and 150% of Epan was required for 95 and 99% of maximum yield, respectively, as determined from fitted Mitscherlich relationships. Critical levels of N required for 95 (417 kg ha^‐1) and 99% (703 kg ha^‐1) of maximum yield were also determined from a Mitschlerlich relationship fitted to the average of the W3 to W6 treatments. The percent total N and nitrate‐N in petioles of youngest fully expanded leaves required for 95 and 99% of maximum yield was 1.78 and 2.11, respectively, at the 10 mm tuber stage, and 0.25 and 0.80% at the 10mm plus 14 day stage (from quadratic regressions). There was a significant (P≤0.001) increase in N uptake by tubers with level of applied N from 57 kg ha^‐1 at 0 kg applied N ha^‐1 to 190 kg ha^‐1 at 800 kg applied N ha^‐1 (from a Mitscherlich relationship fitted to the average of W3 to W6 treatments). After accounting for N uptake from soil reserves (57 kg N ha^‐1), apparent recovery efficiency (RE) of fertilizer N by tubers [RE=(Up‐Uo/Np) where Up=uptake of N by the crop, Uo=uptake in absence of applied N and Np is the level of applied N, expressed as a fraction] declined from 0.28 at 100 kg applied N ha^‐1 to 0.17 at 800 kg applied N ha^‐1. There was a linear increase in ‘after cooking darkening’ (i.e., greying) of tubers with increasing level of applied N. Conversely, ‘sloughing’ (i.e., disintegration) of tubers decreased (inverse polynomial) with increasing level of applied N. Rate of irrigation had no effect on these cooking qualities. Reducing applied irrigation and N from levels required for 99% of maximum yield to levels required for 95% of maximum yield would not lead to a significant reduction in profit. This would increase apparent recovery efficiency of applied N by plants, maintain tuber quality, and reduce the impact of potato production on the water systems of the Swan coastal plain.     

The evolution of glucose‐6P‐dehydrogenase and 6P‐gluconate‐dehydrogenase activities and the ortho‐diphenolic content of sunflower leaves cultivated under different boron treatments.

Both enzymatic activities increased under B‐deficient and B‐toxic treatments. The ortho‐diphenolic content did not change with B levels.

Our results suggest that the primary B action on the OPP pathway is at the first enzyme (glucose‐6P‐dehydrogenase) level and that the B effect on 6P‐gluconate‐dehydrogenase is secondary to this. The B action on the enzymatic activities seems not to be caused by any direct interaction with substrates, as B infiltration of B‐deficient culture “in vivo”; seems to result in long term effects on cell structures and/or processes not easily r

In this paper the glucose‐6P‐dehydrogenase and 6P‐gluconate ‐ dehydrogenase activities and ortho‐diphenolic content of hydroponically‐cultivated sunflower‐leaves with moderately deficient, normal and toxic B levels were measured. The change in these parameters during time was considered, together with the restoration of enzymatic activities by means of borate infiltration of deficient and normal leaves. The micronutrient content of the leaves was alsversible by B infiltration of leaves. The positive correlation found between the 6P‐gluconate‐dehydrogenase activity and the Zn content in leaves might be interpretable as and indirect B effect on that activity through modification of Zn content.     

Phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity and ortho‐diphenolic content with regard to boron nutrition in sunflower leaves.

Homogenates were prepared from the leaves of hydroponically cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.) under deficient, normal and toxic B conditions and the phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity together with the ortho‐diphenolic and micronutrient content were measured every week from one month to flowering

The restoration of enzymatic activity on the exogenous addition of borate “in vivo”; was also studied.

Both B toxicity and deficiency resulted in increased phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity in the homogenates

The toxicity effect was early and sustained and the deficiency effect late and transitory. “In vitro”; borate addition to the reaction mixture did not significantly change the phenylalanine‐ammonia‐lyase activity in the homogenates.

There was no statistical correlation between the phenylalanine‐ammonia‐lyase activity and any micronutrient content in leaves.

A high accumulation of ortho‐diphenolics appeared in B‐deficient leaves only after 28 days of differential culture and may be responsible for the drop in phenylalanine‐ammonia‐lyase activity noted at this time.     

Acid ammonium acetate and acid ammonium acetate‐EDTA soil tests in assessing soil boron

Abstract

The widely used hot‐water extraction method for soil boron was compared with acid ammonium acetate (AAAc) and acid ammonium acetate‐EDTA (AAAc‐EDTA) for boron determination. According to the results AAAc and AAAc‐EDTA were similar in their extracting power but these extracted only about one third of the boron amounts of the hot water extraction method. This sets special requirements for the sensitivity of the method of determination if these extractants are used. There was no significant difference in the correlation between timothy boron and soil boron assessed with studied methods and the coefficient of correlation ranged from 0.34 to 0.37. Interpretation for AAAc and AAAc‐EDTA tests was derived of that of the hot water method in use in Finland. The sensitivity of the ICP method was too poor to accurately separate between most deficient classes but there was no problems in separation between soils in need of boron fertilization and those which are satisfactory with respect to boron.     

Influence of boron concentrations on some meta‐bolites of date palm and sorghum seedlings

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv Khedhri) and sorghum (sorghum Sudan grass hybrid cv sugar Graze 11) plants were grown in vermiculite in a controlled environment and watered with a nutrient solution containing eight different concentrations of boron (B) (0 to 500 ppm), six months for date palm and four weeks for sorghum. The chlorophyll (Chl) content of the seedlings increased significantly with low concentrations of B for both date palm and sorghum, but no further significant increases were observed at higher concentrations. Generally, there was a positive correlation between B and calcium (Ca) content in the tissues of both seedlings when B concentrations were increased in the media. A negative correlation was found between B concentration in the media and the tissue content of phenolic compounds and the activity of some enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase, IAA‐oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase in the tissue, while there was a positive correlation in the case of peroxidase. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) increased significantly in date palm with the increase of B in the medium, but for sorghum, the increase occurred at 10–100 ppm and decreased at 300 and 500 ppm B in the media.     

Adsorption‐desorption of zinc in mollisols and their relationship with uptake of fertilizer‐applied zinc by rice

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) adsorption in mollisols conformed to the linear form of Freundlich equation. The log K values were positively correlated with silt, clay, and carbonate contents and soil pH, but negatively correlated with sand content. Sequential desorption of adsorbed Zn in 0.05M Ca(NO₃)₂, 0.1M Mg(NO₃)₂, 0.005M DTPA, and 0.1M HCl revealed that weakly and specifically bound fractions of added Zn, which could easily equilibrate with soil solution, were low and decreased with silt and carbonate contents and soil pH. Weakly bound fraction increased with sand content. Strongly bound and complexed fraction of applied Zn was the maximum and increased with clay, soil organic carbon and carbonate contents and specific surface area, but decreased with sand content. The mineral bound fraction of applied Zn was intermediate and increased with silt, clay and carbonate contents, and soil pH and specific surface area. Zinc uptake due to added Zn fertilizer by rice crop (Y) negatively correlated with log K, but positively related to Zn content in the equilibrium soil extract and Zn desorbed in 0.05M Ca(NO₃)₂. Both log K and l/n values together explained 59.5% of the total variation in Y, while Zn content in the equilibrium soil extract, Zn desorbed in 0.05M Ca(NO₃)₂, 0.005M DTPA and 0.1M HCl collectively accounted 79.6% of the total variation in Y.     

Influence of split‐applied nitrogen on grain yield and protein content in ten grain sorghum culti‐vars 1

More information on the response of newly developed or introduced grain sorghum cultivare to split‐applied nitrogen (N) in semi‐arid rainfed agriculture is needed. Therefore, the influence of four split‐applied N schedules (100/0, 66/34, 50/50, and 34/66) on six American (SC 283, SC 274, SC 669, B 66181, SC 33, and RTam 428), and four West African (CSm 63, 1S 6704c, 1S 7173c, and 1S 7419c) grain sorghum cultivars was evaluated. The split‐applied N significantly increased grain yield and percent protein in grain sorghum over a one‐time application of N. The increase in yield and protein content varied among varieties and schedules of N application. Varieties SC 574, RTam 428, and Csm 63 at split‐applied schedules of 66/34, 50/50, and 34/66, respectively, gave the highest yield over one‐time application of N. Similar differences in percent protein in grain among cultivars due to split‐applied N were observed.     

The relationship between applied nitrogen and the concentration of nitrate‐N in cotton petioles

Abstract

Cotton petioles from irrigated plants grown under varying nitrogen regimes were analyzed for nitrate‐N (NO₃‐N). The most recent, fully matured petioles were selected. The concentration of NO₃‐N in the petioles was related to applied N rates and the yields of lint obtained. The concentration of NO₃‐N for any given N application declined as the season progressed. The concentration of petiole nitrate increased at all sampling dates as the rate of applied N increased. The relationship between applied N and NO₃‐N concentrations was most predictable when samples were collected two weeks after the initiation of squaring. The influence of applied N on the concentration of petiole nitrate was also greatest at this stage. The diagnosis of either N deficiency or excess N would be feasible by petiole analysis when the effects of stage of growth could be separated from the effects of soil N.     

Polyphenol oxidase activity and ortho‐diphenolic content in sunflower leaves in relation to boron nutrition.

Homogenates were prepared from the leaves of hydroponically cultivated sunflowers (Helianthus annuus, L.) under deficient, normal and toxic B conditions and the polyphenol oxidase activity together with the ortho‐diphenolic and micronutrient content was measured every week from one month to flowering.

B deficiency slightly depressed polyphenol oxidase activity and B toxicity decreased it significantly at all times, the response fitting a line versus the logarithm of the B concentration in solution. We found a positive correlation between polyphenol oxidase activity and the B content in leaves.

B action on enzymatic activity seemed not to be caused by direct interaction with substrates as the infiltration of B into deficient leaves did not restore the normal activity

According to our results we suggest that polyphenol oxidase activity may be a valid functional parameter to indicate the nutritional status of B in sunflower plants, if its specificity for B can be demonstrated.

The ortho‐diphenolic content did not change with the B levels used in our experiments. Neither did we find any correlation between enzymatic activity and the o‐diphenolic content of the leaves.     

Downward movement of surface‐applied P on established forage stands

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on Black Chernozem and Gray Luvisol soils in Alberta to determine the downward movement of long‐term applications of surface‐broadcast P fertilizer on established forage grass or alfalfa stands. The majority of fertilizer P recovered in soil as extractable P remained in the top 5 cm layer. The amount and depth of movement of applied P increased with P rate, but little or none was recovered below 15 cm.     

The determination of hot‐water‐soluble boron in some acid Oregon soils using a modified azomethine‐H procedure

Abstract

A method is proposed for determination of hot‐water‐soluble boron in acid soils from western Oregon. The soil sample is boiled in 0.02 M CaCl₂, filtered, and B determined using azomethine‐H. Soils extracted in this way yielded extracts with little color in them and the predicted error due to this color was 0.00–0.07 ppm B. The use of charcoal as a decolorizing agent resulted in comparatively high predicted errors.

Inductively‐coupled plasma emission spectroscopic (ICP) analysis of distilled water and 0.02 M CaCl₂ extracts indicated that the extractable B level was not affected by the presence of CaCl₂. Azomethine‐H yielded comparable values to ICP but the curcumin method tended to give high values for hot‐water‐soluble B.     

The effects of leaching surface‐applied amendments on subsoil aluminum and alfalfa growth in a Louisiana Ultisol

Abstract

A greenhouse leaching column study was conducted to compare the effects of surface‐applied langbeinite (LB), phosphogypsum (PG), Ca‐ silicate slag (SS), and calcitic lime (CL) on subsoil Al and growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ‘Florida 77') in Toula silt loam soil (Typic Fragiudult). Langbeinite was found to be more effective than PG in the reduction of subsoil exchangeable Al, apparently through SO₄ ^2‐‐induced Al precipitation. This study demonstrated that high exchangeable Al levels are not always indicative of Al toxicity in the soil solution phase. The primary factors limiting alfalfa growth in the Toula soil were found to be surface soil pH and Mn toxicity rather than subsoil Al toxicity. The liming materials, SS and CL, effectively corrected the surface soil Mn and pH problems, but had no effect on subsoil chemical properties.     

Soybean leaf analysis of washed versus unwashed samples from boron‐manganese studies

Abstract

Elemental analyses of soybean leaf tissue from B & Mn field studies Indicate that washing tissue in deiontzed water did not appreciably change the concentration of most elements in the tissue. An exception was N which was decreased 0.54 per cent for one location and 0.33 per cent for the average of 3‐ sites when washed in deionized water prior to analyses. Although the tissue did not Indicate appreciable change tn K content when washed, the water In which the tissue had been washed Increased In K content by 6 ppm. The content of four of the micro elements in the plant tissue was affected by washing as compared to the unwashed samples. Mo and Ni were decreased while Zn and Cu were Increased.     

Extraction of boron from soil by microwave heating for ICP‐AES determination

Abstract

Extraction with hot water is the most widely used procedure to determine boron (B) in soils for the diagnosis of the nutrient availability for plants. However, this procedure is tedious for routine conditions and requires some special precautions. An alternative extraction procedure was developed, consisting in the extraction of B with a 1.25 g/L solution of barium chloride (BaCl₂) or with water heated in a domestic microwave oven. Boron was determined either by inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometry (ICP‐AES) and by spectrophotometry with azomethine‐H. Good correlations were found between the extraction by boiling water under reflux and the extraction by the microwave heating for 13 Brazilian soils, and the contents of B obtained by spectrophotometry did not differ significantly from those obtained by ICP‐AES. Considering the calculated standard deviations, it can be concluded that microwave heating followed by ICP‐AES determination is an adequate procedure for the determination of hot water extractable B in soils.     

The effect of subsurface aluminium on the growth and uptake of surface‐applied phosphorus by wheat seedlings 1

Seedlings of four cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) differing in tolerance to aluminium (Al) were grown for 14 to 20 days using a split‐root sand/solution culture technique. Each culture tube was divided horizontally into two compartments by a root‐permeable paraffin wax barrier, so that phosphorus (P) and aluminium (Al) supply could be varied in the upper 0–80 mm (surface) and lower 80–180 mm (subsurface) compartments, respectively.

Root growth into the subsurface zone was enhanced by increased P supply to surface roots, but only in the absence of subsurface Al. Where subsurface Al was present, increased P supply to surface roots had no effect on the penetration of roots into the subsurface zone. Tolerance to Al in the cultivars used was therefore not related to the ability to translocate P to sites of Al injury.     

Determination of boron in fresh and in dried plant material by plasma emission spectrometry after extraction with HF‐HCL

Abstract

The boron content of plant material was determined by ICP‐AES after a simple extraction with a mixture of HF and HC1. The method gave excellent agreement with the colorimetric determination by Azomethine H after dry‐ashing and with ICP‐AES after dry‐ashing. No significant interferences were found from 17 elements with ICP‐AES. A digestion procedure with only HNO₃, followed by ICP‐AES determination, gave low results at higher B levels. The HF‐HC1 extraction was applied to both fresh and dried material; the boron values thus obtained compared very well, which indicates that no loss of boron compounds occurs during drying.     

Foliar uptake of volatilized ammonia from surface‐applied urea by spring wheat

Abstract

Large volatile losses of NH₃ can occur from surface‐applied urea in semi‐arid areas. Our objective was to determine possible absorption of this volatilized N by the crop canopy under field conditions. At two different times during crop growth, ¹⁵N‐enriched urea was surface‐applied at rates equivalent to 100 kg N ha^‐1 to soil contained in trays placed between two rows of spring wheat. Seven days after application, the soil in the trays was removed from the field and analyzed for ¹⁵N content. Addition of HC1 during soil air drying was necessary to prevent volatile losses of ¹⁵N. Of applied urea‐N, 13% was volatilized over seven days at both application times. Of the urea‐N that was volatilized, 15% was absorbed by wheat at the first application time and 7% was absorbed by wheat at the second application time. Plant absorption of urea N (Y, mg) declined with distance from the source (x, cm) following the equation Y=10.95*10^(‐0.0142x). About 90% of absorbed N was within the first three wheat rows. Our findings suggest that a significant portion of ammonia volatilized from top‐dressed urea might be captured by plant foliage.