Special Analysis Interpretation Sheet
Boron (B)
By J Stevens
Specialist- Soils & Fertilizers

	Boron is an essential element for plant growth.  It is a micronutrient, found in the soil in very small quantities.  Boron in plant available form (borate) moves with the soil water.  Boron availability to plants is affected by soil Ph.  As the soil pH increases, boron availability  decreases.  Sometimes a boron deficiency can occur when an acid soil is limed to a pH higher than 7.0.

	The boron extractant our lab uses is hot water.  The interpretations for boron levels in Louisiana soils are as follows:

Boron Level (parts per million)	Interpretation	
<0.25	Low	
0.25-0.75	Medium	
>0.75	High	

Crops where boron deficiency may be a problem include cotton, peanuts, potatoes, greenhouse tomatoes, alfalfa and cole vegetable crops.

	Tissue analysis is probably a better method of diagnosing boron deficiency than soil analysis.