Effect of Boron Soil Application on Nutrients Efficiency in Tobacco Leaf

Fayaz Ali¹, Amjad Ali^1*, Hameed Gul², Muhammad Sharif³, Arooj Sadiq⁴, Ansaar Ahmed⁵, Arif Ullah⁶, Amanullah Mahar¹, Shahmir Ali Kalhoro⁷

¹College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China.
²Pakistan Tobacco Board, Tobacco Research Station, Mardan, Pakistan.
³Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁴Department of Agriculture Resource and Environmental Sciences, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China.
⁵Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁶College of Economics and Management, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China.
⁷Faculty of Agriculture, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water & Marine Sciences, Lasbela, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2015.69139                

Abstract

The present study was based on the general hypothesis that boron may affect the accumulation and utilization of other nutrients in plant. For this purpose a field experiment was carried out to find out the influence of boron on the different nutrients content in FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) at TRS Khan Garhi, Mardan, during 2010-2011. Two varieties TM-2008 and Speight G-28 were tested and six levels of boron (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 kg·ha^-1) were applied in the form of boric acid, in randomized complete block design in split plot arrangement and replicated thrice. Results indicated that the yield of tobacco crop increased with 1 kg·B·ha^-1 and then decreased sequence wise in both varieties. N and P concentrations were significantly affected by applied boron. Similarly, potassium was increased which is a good indication for a better quality of tobacco crop. Application of boron significantly increased the concentrations of boron nutrients ratios such as K/B; Cl/B and Mn/Fe were decreased while K/Cl and Zn/Cu ratios were increased at lower boron concentrations but decreased at higher concentrations of boron. The fertilizer use efficiency of both the cultivars showed similar trend; however, Speight G-28 was more efficient than TM-2008 in boron accumulation. The overall results revealed that the application of boron should be encouraged for balancing nutrients concentration, thus getting higher yield in the prevailing conditions.

Keywords

Boron, Nutrients Efficiency, Nitrogen, Phosphurus, Tobacco

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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