Influence of Foliage Applied Boron on Yield and Related Traits of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

BORON (B) is an essential micronutrient for higher plants. However, in calcareous soils its availability is low due to adsorption; therefore, foliar application of B is considered a feasible approach. There exists a very narrow range between deficiency and excess. This study was designed to optimize the B concentration in a foliar spray and to determine the influence of foliar application of boronon improving grain yield and yield related wheat (Triticum aestivum) traits. Two concentrations of B foliar spray i.e. 0.01 and 0.05M B solutions (using borax as source of boron) and a water foliar application (control) were compared on two wheat cultivars: Faisalabad-2008 and Lasani-2008. Foliar fertilization treatments and control were applied 50 days after sowing. Foliar application of 0.01M B solution had significantly improved wheat yield and yield related parameters. Greater productive tillers (33.12 per pot), spike length (8.64cm), spikelets per spike (17.29), grains per spike (42.23), 100-grains weight (4.90g), grain yield (7.03g per pot) and biological yield (11.92 g per pot) were recorded where plants were foliar sprayed with 0.01M B solution than control (water spray). The 0.05M B solution application was toxic and suppressed growth and yield of wheat. In conclusion, B foliage applied 0.01M at 50 days after sowing may help to overcome the plant B requirements and improve grain yield of bread wheat.