Effect of the Boron Concentration in Irrigation Water on the Elemental Composition of Vegetables on Soils With Different Textures

Effect of the Boron Concentration in Irrigation Water on the Elemental Composition of Vegetables on Soils With Different Textures

The application of B-rich irrigation water is a global issue and the most important B pollution source in the environment. On the other hand, B deficiency is a worldwide problem, affecting about 8 million hectares of arable land.

B is both a potential hazard and also an essential micronutrient for vascular plants. For humans B deficiency may cause serious health issues. However, the range between deficiency and toxicity of B is very narrow. Major B sources are legumes, fresh vegetables and fruit.

Data on the B tolerance of vegetables is available, but information on the effect of B irrigation on element composition and hence the nutritional value of vegetables edible parts is scarce or not available.

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of B irrigation on the element composition, and B transfer to the edible parts in four widely consumed vegetables (tomato, potato, cabbage and green bean) grown on different soils. The main findings:

• The 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L B treatment had no effect on the biomass of the vegetables but modified their nutritional value.

• Tomato: B irrigation had the most significant effect on the element composition of tomato fruit, as it affected the B, Mg, K, Fe, Cu and Zn contents. The irrigation water containing 0.1 mg/L B promoted the ripening on all the soils.

• Green bean: B treatment decreased the nutritional value by diminishing its K and Fe content on all the soils.

• Potato: the element content was almost unaffected by B treatments.

• Cabbage: on sandy soil the B, Mg, Fe and Cu content of the leaves decreased as a result of B treatments.

Results of our research are published in Q1 journal Frontiers in Plant Science:
Rékási M, Ragályi P, Füzy A, Uzinger N, Dobosy P, Záray G, Szűcs-Vásárhelyi N, Makó A and Takács T (2021) Effect of the Boron Concentration in Irrigation Water on the Elemental Composition of Edible Parts of Tomato, Green Bean, Potato, and Cabbage Grown on Soils With Different Textures.
Front. Plant Sci. 12:658892. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.658892

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