Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Low boron (B) availability is associated with strongly weathered, coarse‐textured, and low organic matter soils, widespread in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It is unknown to what extent B fertilization can increase maize yields in SSA. This study aims to understand the soil properties controlling B availability to field‐grown maize. Methods Boron fertilizer omission trials with maize were executed at 15 sites in Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Yield, B uptake, and soil parameters potentially relevant for B availability, including extractable soil B (hot water, 0.01 M CaCl 2 , and 0.43 M HNO 3 ), were determined. Results Soil B pools were strongly intercorrelated and were positively correlated with organic carbon, suggesting the relevance of organic matter for soil B availability. Soil parameters described limited variation in B uptake and the yield response to B fertilization. Boron fertilization did not increase yields in any of the 15 sites but increased uptake in 11 sites. Yields were reduced through B fertilization in five sites, likely because B application induced toxicity. No clear critical soil or plant B concentrations indicating deficiency could be derived, but positive yield responses to B fertilization were absent with hot water B levels above 0.69 mg kg −1 . Conclusion Assessing B fertilizer needs in maize grown in tropical soils based on soil or plant tissue concentrations remains challenging. Improving soil organic matter status could potentially alleviate B deficiency in crops when present. Recommendations are given to overcome the identified challenges associated with studying B availability in tropical soils.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Soil B pools were intercorrelated and positively correlated with organic carbon.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil B pools were strongly intercorrelated and were positively correlated with organic carbon”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil parameters explained limited variation in B uptake and yield response.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil parameters described limited variation in B uptake and the yield response to B fertilization”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
B fertilization did not increase yield at any of 15 sites.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Boron fertilization did not increase yields in any of the 15 sites”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
B fertilization increased uptake at 11 sites.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Boron fertilization did not increase yields in any of the 15 sites but increased uptake in 11 sites”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
B fertilization reduced yields at five sites, likely because of toxicity.
- Treatment
- B fertilizatione0
- Outcome
- Yieldse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- five sitese0
- Qualifier
- likely because B application induced toxicitye0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Yields were reduced through B fertilization in five sites, likely because B application induced toxicity”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
No clear critical soil or plant B deficiency concentration could be derived.
- Outcome
- critical soil or plant B concentrations indicating deficiencye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“No clear critical soil or plant B concentrations indicating deficiency could be derived”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Positive yield response was absent above 0.69 mg kg −1 hot water B.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“positive yield responses to B fertilization were absent with hot water B levels above 0.69 mg kg −1”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Improving soil organic matter could alleviate B deficiency.
- Outcome
- Improving soil organic matter statuse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Improving soil organic matter status could potentially alleviate B deficiency in crops when present”
t0“maize”
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