SITUATION

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

• Cell division
• Leaching
• Silking
• Soil tests
• Twisted ears
• Plant tissue analysis
• Drought
• Foliar boron application

ACTION PLAN

1. Understand boron’s role in corn production. Boron serves two primary roles. One is supporting plant cell division. And the second is during the silking stage of development, in which boron helps transfer water and nutrients from the roots up through the plant.
2. Consider moisture conditions. In most soils, boron is released through organic matter decomposition. However, drought conditions essentially halt organic matter decomposition and thus limit boron release. Also, boron is water-soluble, so it can be lost via leaching, particularly in sandier, irrigated soils.
3. Monitor for deficiencies. Twisted ears and barren stalks are preliminary indicators of a deficiency, but both soil tests and plant tissue samples are needed to confirm a boron defiency — especially since growers are doing a better job of maintaining a more neutral soil pH, which lessens boron availability. To conduct a plant tissue analysis during pollination, examine the leaf opposite the ear. Refer to the chart at right to determine if boron amounts are adequate based on results of these tests.
4. Apply foliarly if needed. Researchers estimate that an acre of corn that produces 150 bushels uptakes 0.16 pound of boron. After corn has reached the V5 stage, many growers have had success foliarly spraying boron, incorporating with other products like fungicides or a micronutrient blend product. To prevent toxicity, spray at a rate of 0.1 to 0.5 pound of boron per acre.

SUMMARY