INFLUENCE OF APPLIED CALCIUM-BORON RATIO ON THE SOLUBILITY OF NUTRIENT-ELEMENTS IN SOIL

The present study was based on the hypothesis that the concentration of certain nutrients in soil solution can be used as a mirror for plant nutrients, with regard to the effect of applied Ca/B ratios in soil. Results revealed that the concentrations of phosphorus, sodium, copper and iron in soil solution were not significantly altered, while rest of the nutrient-elements significantly changed due to applied Ca/B ratios in soil. Results also indicate that almost all nutrient-elements correlated to Ca/B ratios in soil solution as well as in applied terms, though with a variable statistical significance. For example, phosphorus, iron, boron and molybdenum showed negative and rest of the nutrient-elements such as nitrogen (NH4+NO3), potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, manganese and copper showed positive correlation. Moreover, Soil pH showed a significantly negative correlation to Ca/B ratios in soil solution. The present study suggests that both Ca/B ratios either in soil solution or in applied terms are significant, in determining the nutrients response in soil-plant system and linking the plant nutrition to soil fertility