Available Boron Status of Soils in Central Plain Region of Punjab

Surface (0–15 cm) soil samples numbering 200, 100 and 100 collected from Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Sangrur districts of the Central Plain Region of Punjab were analyzed for available boron and physico- chemical characteristics. The available boron content varied between 0.22 to 2.16, 0.28 to 1.84 and 0.32 to 2.00 mg kg⁻¹ soil in soils of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Sangrur district, respectively. Considering soils containing available B less than 0.5 and 0.5 to 1.0 mg B kg⁻¹ soil as low and medium in B supply, respectively, 78 per cent samples of Ludhiana district were medium to adequate in available boron, while 22 per cent were low in available boron. In Jalandhar district, the available boron in 25 and 53 per cent of the investigated soils was in the low and medium range, respectively and 22 per cent samples had the adequate boron status. Similarly in Sangrur district, 96 per cent of soil samples were medium to adequate in the available boron, while 4 per cent were low in available boron. Boron deficiency decreased with the increase in fineness of soil texture, soil alkalinity and organic matter content.