The influence of boron on pepper plants nutritional status and nutrient efficiency

Abstract

Boron may affect total uptake of various nutrients and their nutrient use efficiency (NUE) which results in high productivity and low fertilizer cost. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of boron concentration in nutrient solution on total uptake of the various nutrients and their utilization efficiency in pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.). Four cultivars (Osho, Solario, Odysseo and Arlequin) were treated with 0.5-10 mg B L-1. Each treatment included five replications with 3 plants and after 20, 40 and 70 days in culture one plant per pot was removed, divided into leaves, shoots and roots and analysed. The cultivars Odysseo and Arlequin have the greatest total phosphorus absorption at 0.5-2.5 mg B L-1 and more Ca at 1-2.5 mg B L-1, while Odysseo absorbed more magnesium (Mg) per plant at 1 mg B L-1 and 70 d per plant than the other cultivars. Furthermore, Solario, Odysseo, and Arlequin absorbed at 70 days more B. Differences were recorded also among the cultivars concerning the rest of the nutrients. The maximum nutrient use efficiency of Solario and Osho for phosphorus and potassium was recorded at 5 mg B L-1, and in Solario for calcium. Boron use efficiency was maximum for Solario, Osho and Odysseo at 0.5 mg B L-1 and for Fe at 10 mg B L-1 for all the cultivars. The effect of boron on magnesium, manganese and zinc use efficiency was variable.