Boron deficiency in Chinese cabbage

Abstract

In 1953, boron deficiency in Chinese cabbage was found in Kameoka district. In 1955, this physiological disease was severe at many places in Kyoto Prefecture.
The studies on the symptom and the control of this disease were carried out in the Kyoto Agricultural Experiment Station from 1955 to 1958.
1. Brown checking on the midrib of the leaf seemed to be the typical symptom of this disease, and was severe on the 31th to 35th leaves. The time when this symptom appeared was during the heading period.
2. Among the varieties tested, Matsushima group showed the severest symptom, Kaga the second, and Nozaki the third. In Matsushima the boron content was 11.6ppm, and in Nozaki 13.2ppm.
3. The boron deficiency in Chinese cabbage was enhanced when nitrogen and potassium fertilizers and lime were applied in excess. However, in these cases the application of boron caused a normal growth. For prevention from the boron deficiency, it seems desirable to apply 100g of borax per are as the base fertilizer.
4. A severe boron deficiency took place in the case when the precipitation before the heading was only a little, but the deficiency was slight in case of much precipitation.
5. This disease was observed in sandy loam and loam soils with pH 5-6. In these soils the available boron content was 0.09ppm.