Symptoms
The young leaves of B deficiency plants are thickened, crinkled and bordered by light brown tissue, which extends to the intercostal areas.
The growing points and the shoot tips die off. In severe cases, the leaf margins are cupped upward.
Reasons
Boron deficiency.
Can be confused with Ca deficiency, which also affects the growing points and leads to their dying off. Ca deficiency also causes leaf necrosis, which is seen at the edge of the leaf and not between the veins as with boron deficiency.
Potato has a relatively low requirement hence deficiency symptoms occurs mainly on soils with poor boron content (weathered sandy soils) or soils with a high fixing capacity (recently limed, peat soils, pH > 7).
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
The young leaves of B deficiency plants are thickened, cupped upward and may show light brown tissue between the veins. The growing points and the shoot tips die off.
Reasons
Boron deficiency.
Can be confused with Ca deficiency, which also affects the growing points and causes rolling-up of leaves.
Ca deficiency also causes leaf necrosis, which is seen at the edge of the leaf and not between the veins as with boron deficiency.
Potato has a relatively low requirement hence deficiency symptoms occurs mainly on soils with poor boron content (weathered sandy soils) or soils with a high fixing capacity (recently limed, peat soils, pH > 7).
Potatoes - Discolouration
Symptoms
B deficiency leads to small tubers with skin crackings and brown areas under the skin at the stolon end or in the vascular ring.
Reasons
Boron deficiency.
Ca deficiency can also cause internal browning and hollow tubers. It is not possible to separate the symptoms.
Potato has a relatively low requirement hence deficiency symptoms occurs mainly on soils with poor boron content (weathered sandy soils) or soils with a high fixing capacity (recently limed, peat soils, pH > 7)
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
Young leaflets show reduced, misshapen leaf blade.
In severe cases, the leaf margins are cupped upward.
Reasons
Boron deficiency.
Calcium deficiency may cause similar deformations on young leaflets.
Potato has a relatively low requirement hence deficiency symptoms occurs mainly on soils with poor boron content (weathered sandy soils) or soils with a high fixing capacity (recently limed, peat soils, pH > 7).
Potatoes - Deformation
Symptoms
The complete plant shows paling and yellowing. Young leaves are thickened, crinkled and cupped upward.
The growing points and the shoot tips die off.
Reasons
Boron deficiency.
Can be confused with Ca deficiency, which also affects the growing points and leads to their dying off. Ca deficiency also causes leaf necrosis, which is seen at the edge of the leaf and not between the veins as with boron deficiency.
Potato has a relatively low requirement hence deficiency symptoms occurs mainly on soils with poor boron content (weathered sandy soils) or soils with a high fixing capacity (recently limed, peat soils, pH > 7)
Boron deficiency made worse by
Sandy soils
Alkaline soils
Soils low in organic matter
High levels of nitrogen
High levels of calcium
Cold wet weather
Periods of drought
Boron is important for
Improved crop development
Improved tuber quality
Reduced incidence of internal Rust Spot
Reduced incidence of internal browning
Yara recommended fertilizers for Boron
YaraLiva™ NITRABOR™
Potatoes:
Apply 80 gms per sqm. at tuber formation.