Deposits

1
THE BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Click on an object and follow Boron through its
cycle.
Main Cycle
Boron Info
Palmer Murdock, 2000
2
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
pHlt7.0H3BO3 pHgt7.0H4BO4-
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
3
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
4
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
5
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
6
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
7
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
8
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
9
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
10
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
11
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
12
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
13
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
14
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
15
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
16
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
17
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
18
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
19
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
20
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
21
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
22
BORON CYCLE
Atmosphere
Volcanism
Stockpiles Reclamation Ponds
Agricultural Burninig
Coal Combustion
Industry
Plant Animal Residues
Forest Fires
Coal
Landfill
Refining
Organic Matter
Fertilizer/ End Use
Oceans
Mining
Soil Solution
Plant Biomass
Surface Water
Deposits
Ground Water
Soil/ Crusts
Main Cycle
Boron Info
23
Boron Information
Form taken up by plants Soil Mobility
Role of soil characteristics
Roles of Boron
B fertilizers
Concentrations in soil Deficiency levels in plants
Plant mobility Deficiency symptoms
B availability index
Soil O. M. interactions Effect of pH on
availability
Toxic levels
Reference Page
Other B sources
Main Cycle
Boron Info
Palmer Murdock, 2000
24
Form taken up by plantsH3BO3 Soil
Mobility Yes
Main Cycle
Boron Info
25
Plant Mobility Intermediate mobility in
the phloemDeficiency symptoms Necrosis
of leaves and terminal buds, thisoften leads to
a bushy appearance. Thick, brittle, pale green
leaves. Irregular shedding of flowers or fruit.
Fruit develops corky lesions and splits
irregularly (Black-heart or heart-rot in
vegetables).
Main Cycle
Boron Info
26
Soil O. M. interactions Boron is complexed by
O.M. and can be a major source of B to plants.
Mineralization of O.M. releases B to soil
solution. Tourmaline is the mineral source of B
in soils and is a very insoluble borosilicate
mineral. Effect of pH on availability Boron
availability decreases with increasing pH.
Overliming acid soils can cause temporary B
deficiency due to B adsorption on freshly
precipitated Al(OH)3 and interaction with Ca2.
Boron Info
Main Cycle
27
Role of soil characteristicsBoron is generally
less available on sandy soils in humid regions
due to increased leaching. Especially true on
acid soils with low O.M. Boron availability
increases with increasing O.M. Most alkaline
and calcareous soils contain sufficient B
sinceprimary B minerals have not been highly
weathered or leached out as in humid region
soils.
Main Cycle
Boron Info
28
Roles of Boron In plants Root elongation and
nucleic acid metabolism, cell wall synthesis,
phenol metabolism, IAA metabolism, tissue
differentation, aids in membrane function and
integrity, and aids in pollen tube growth.In
humans Ca and Mg metabolism, B is needed for
proper absorption of Ca for healthy bones and
joints, necessary for proper cell function.
Optimum level 3 mg/day. Sources Almonds, beer,
soybean, vegetables, and wine.
Main Cycle
Boron Info
29
Concentrations in soil Total B in soil is
small ( 20-200 ppm)Deficiency levels in
plantsMonocots 5-10 mg/kgDicots 20-70
mg/kgGum-bearing plants (poppy) 80-100 mg/kg
Main Cycle
Boron Info
30
Toxic levels in plantsCorn gt100
mg/kgCucumber gt300 mg/kgWheat gt10
mg/kgAlfalfa gt100 mg/kgToxic levels in soil
and waterBoron can be toxic on some alkaline
soils when soil test or extractable B exceeds 5
ppm. Irrigation water that contains gt1 ppm B can
also produce toxicity.
Main Cycle
Boron Info
31
B availability indexHot water soluble B
testSoil solution 0.2 ppm deficient
gt1 ppm toxicSoil weight basis 1-5 ppm marginal
gt5 ppm toxic
Main Cycle
Boron Info
32
B fertilizersBorax (Na4B4O7 10 H2O) 10-11
BBoric acid (H3BO3) 17 BColemanite
Ca2B6O11 5H2O 10-16 BSodium pentaborate
Na2B10O16 10 H2O 18 BSodium tetraborate
Na2B4O7 5 H2O 14-15 BSolubor Na2B4O7 5 H2O
Na2B10O16 10 H2O 20-21 B
Main Cycle
Boron Info
33
Other sources of BAnimal wastes 0.01 to 0.09
lb/ton of wasteat 72-85 moisture. Sewage
effluent 0.3 to 2.5 ppm B. Average is 1.0
ppm.Coal Up to 400 ppm. Average 50-60 ppm.
Coal combustion produces a residue called fly
ash has up to 600 ppm. Averages 50-60 ppm.
Main Cycle
Boron Info
34
ReferencesMarschner, H. 1997. Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants. 2nd ed. Academic
Press Inc. San Diego, CA. Mortvedt, J. J.
1972. Micronutrients in Agriculture. Soil
Science Society of America. Madison,
WI.Phillipson, Tore. 1953. Boron in plant and
soil with special regard to Swedish
agriculture. Acta Agriculturae
Scandinavica. III2. Raun, W. R., G. V.
Johnson, and S. L. Taylor. 1996. Soil-Plant
Relationships, Oklahoma State University,
Agronomy 5813 class notes. Taiz, L. and E.
Zieger. 1991. Plant Physiology. Tisdale, S.
L., W. L. Nelson, J. D. Beaton, and J. L.
Havlin. 1993. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers.
5th ed. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York, NY.
Main Cycle
Boron Info