Boron fertilization on wheat seed production

Abstract

Boron deficiency can decrease fertility of flowers, harming productivity of wheat seeds. The experiment was conducted in didactic laboratory seed testing and in the greenhouse, both located in the municipality of Capão do Leão (RS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and physiological quality of wheat seed produced on time and doses of B application. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications in a factorial arrangement involving application stage (seeding and tillering), and B doses (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5kg ha-1). The B source utilized was sodium tetraborate (borax), which has 11.5% of B. Boron fertilization applied at sowing and tillering at doses ranging from 2.5kg to 3kg B ha-1 causing an increase in the number of seeds produced per plant and spikes, reduction of seed yield per plant, thousand seed weight and weight hectoliter, no reduction in physiological seed quality of wheat. Wheat plants have a higher absorption of B application on the tillering stage in relation to the stage of sowing.