Adding Boron???

[Crimson n' Camo]

Anyone ever added boron to your field? Does it come in a bag of granules like other ferts? Any idea on cost?


I noticed my soil test recommended adding a couple pounds to the acre in my field. I started reading a little about it and the stress I’m seeing on some of my yuchi and durana clovers looks just like the pics of boron deficiency. I think I may still need to tweak my soil nutrients a little.

 

[DocHolladay]

There is another post somewhere about this or it got discussed in a post. 20 Mule Team Borax is what was mentioned being used. Someone might remember the post and put it here quicker than I can find it.

 

[Merle Hawggard]

Definitely mule team. It's used sometimes around apples though I have no idea of the dosage. I'd planned on adding a bit around my trees.

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[Merle Hawggard]

This is for apples, but you may be able to use it to figure out how much to add to your food plot.
I didn't realize there were different percentages so may want to check that too.

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[X-farmerdan]

Yep. 20 Mule Team Borax is touted as a true organic source of boron. Borax is about 11% boron. Should you apply boron? I dunno. Are our food plot "yields" hurt by boron deficiency? The problem is, there's a fine line between deficiency and toxicity. If you do apply born, the amount you will need will be so small it will be hard to apply in a dry format. A little too much in one spot and you got trouble, Keep boron to less than 5 ppm. If I am concerned about micro-nutrients in my food plots, I'll go to my local Southern States Coop and get a couple bags of "Vegetable Grower." It's 10-10-10 with a complete package of micros'. If I remember right, this is what we used to call an ammoniated fertilizer. All the nutrients are ground and then made into a homogeneous granular.

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

I’m still seeing some issues with my clovers even though its not nearly as wide spread as it used to be. When I was reading about it…..the instances where boron deficiency is likely to occur fell right in line with what I’ve been doing. It talked about increasing OM and large doses of lime that raised highly acidic soil often results in boron deficiencies……



http://www.ipni.net/publication/bettercrops.nsf/0/72A410157593E1CA85257D3200564035/$FILE/BC-1993-2%20p20.pdf


Here’s an example of what I’m seeing from some plants………

 

[X-farmerdan]

Yep. You need boron,,,,,

I'm curious what your soil test said for the sample? and was there a recommendation?

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

I put down clover and cereal grains as my crop. It was just a general recommendation at the bottom of the test for the clover….not something they tested I don’t think. I didn’t test micros. After noticing the recommendation on the test, I thought I’d check it out to see if that might be where my deficiency was coming from. It appears as though that may be it.

 

[MarkDarvin]

I have not tried this yet, don't even have any of the gear, but this concept intrigues me. There are all kinds of small things a guy could spread with this. I don't know what borax looks like out of the box, whether or not it'll flow well through something like this, or just become a toxic cloud of boron you can't keep on the ground.

 

[dogghr]

Per my soil tests I add Boron to my alfalfa/clover/chicory plot once yearly. Easiest is Borax at Dollar General 4# for 3$. I just spread bag of 0-20-20 with couple pound of Borax and broadcast. Works great. The thread mentioned I also went into the affect it has on limiting Creeping Charlie. It is also recommended for Brassica even tho I've never done that.

You can also buy bags of fert with Boron in it. It is .5-10-20-20. I don't want the N in my plots so I've only used it once. My soil tests calls for 1# Boron /ac thus it would require four 50# bags.

 

[X-farmerdan]

I put down clover and cereal grains as my crop. It was just a general recommendation at the bottom of the test for the clover….not something they tested I don’t think. I didn’t test micros. After noticing the recommendation on the test, I thought I’d check it out to see if that might be where my deficiency was coming from. It appears as though that may be it.

I hope I don't confuse or complicate the issue. This is just something to consider in light of all the work you've done to improve your soils, which I admire! Years ago, I was doubtful. I was wrong. So, take what comes next in that light.

I'll add this from your previous post for context:
"I’m still seeing some issues with my clovers even though its not nearly as wide spread as it used to be. When I was reading about it…..the instances where boron deficiency is likely to occur fell right in line with what I’ve been doing. It talked about increasing OM and large doses of lime that raised highly acidic soil often results in boron deficiencies……"

Is it possible your soil boron levels are OK? Maybe there's something in the soil chemistry that's stalling absorption. That something could be calcium. There's lot's of research to support it. And there's also some evidence P plays a role as well. I'm not smart enough to untangle all of that..

What bring this to mind is when you say, "....its not nearly as wide spread as it used to be." Low boron soil levels don't improve without intervention. So, if your lime applications to raise pH saturated your soil with CA, is not now possible, as you pH decreases, those CA levels are decreasing - leading to better boron absorption?

There's a real issue with just blindly applying for boron. The poison is in the dose.

You probably have the clues in your soil test results.
Just another thing to consider....

This is old, but just as valid today....
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00380768.1967.10431972

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

To be honest, I’m not sure what’s causing some of the plants to turn red like that. It’s only some of them but I’ve noticed more and more of it as spring has progressed. The boron deficiency was just guessing really. My macronutrients are all pretty good so I just figured it had to be something with the micronutrients. We haven’t had any drought this spring or anything like that to cause stress. There’s other plants that show much better color.