Plant availability of boron in acid soils as assessed by different extractants

Estimation of available‐boron (B) status through conventional methods in B‐deficient acidic Inceptisols and Entisols is often hampered because of their very low B content. In the present study, the extractability of available B by different extractants was tested in relation to soil properties. Plant availability of B was assessed with mustard (Brassica campestris L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in pot experiments. Twelve soils with varying characteristics were extracted for available B with hot water (HW), hot CaCl₂ (HCC), KH₂PO₄ (PDP), tartaric acid (TA), and mannitol‐CaCl₂ (MCC). Mustard (cv. B‐9) and wheat (cv. PBW‐343) were grown with four levels of B (0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg [kg soil]^–1). Dry‐matter accumulation and B concentrations were determined at pre‐flowering and full‐maturity stages for mustard and at panicle‐initiation and maturity stages for wheat. The extraction of B from the soils ranked HCC > HW > PDP > TA > MCC. The higher extractability with HW and HCC was likely due to higher temperature and that of PDP because of its phosphorus content, which facilitated the desorption of B. The low B extraction with MCC resulted from the poor mannitol‐B complex formation in acidic soils. The application of B increased dry‐matter accumulation, plant B concentration, and uptake at all B levels and growth stages in both crops with the responses being more pronounced during the early developmental stage. Based on linear correlations, Mallow's Cp statistics, and principal‐component analyses, HCC and HW were the best extractants for estimating available B in the acidic experimental soils.