Effect of Foliar Boron Application on Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Growth and Final Crop Harvest

Abstract

Boron (B) is an essential micro nutrient and its deficiency caused a reduction in final crop harvest and quality of the yield. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar application of B on yield and yield components of rice in calcareous soils under agro-climatic conditions of Lahore, Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six B foliar application rates (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg L-1). The experiment was replicated three times. The results illustrated a significant effect of B foliar application on number of grains panicle-1, number of filled grains and final grain yield. The highest grain yield (352 g m-2) was recorded in 20 mg L-1 foliar application, whereas an increase in B application to 25 mg L-1 reduces the final grain yield significantly (313 g m-2). Detrimental effects of the highest B application on yield components were also observed. The decline in the quantity and quality rice yield resulted by increasing B application might be due to the toxic effect of higher concentration of B application.