Boron deficiency-Tomato | Yara South Africa

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Nutrients

Tomato - Deformation

Symptoms
Already with slight B deficiency, the petioles are brittle and break off suddenly, which leads to lower yield. Fruits are not marketable because of their chapped surface. Roots are short and with thickened necrotic tips. With severe boron deficiency, the growing points of main shoot and laterals die and the crop is lost. The younger leaves remain small, are curled inwards and deformed. They show chlorotic spots between the veins which are yellow to orange and the veins themselves can become yellow or purple. The older leaves appear yellowish green.

Reasons
Boron deficiency. Boron deficiency may be caused by overliming the soil. This leads to immobilization of the soil boron which cannot be taken up by the plant then. Also with severe Calcium deficiency the growing point dies and the younger leaves are deformed, but in this case leaf tips and margins wither and the fruits show typical blossom-end rot.

Tomato - Hollowness

Symptoms
Fruit with hollow gaps between the outer wall and locules.

Reasons
Boron deficiency on fruit Puffiness (hollowness or boxiness) can usually be caused by extreme environmental conditions or imbalanced feed solution.

Boron deficiency made worse by

Sandy soils
Alkaline soils
Soils low in organic matter
High levels of nitrogen
High levels of calcium
Cold wet weather
Periods of drought

Boron is important for

Meristem growth
Pollen germination
Carbohydrate metabolism
Synthesis of nucleic acids
Calcium transfer
Enhanced sugar degree
Higher sugar production

Yara recommended fertilizers for Boron

YaraLiva NITRABOR

Tomatoes (field grown): 300-400 kg/ha as top-dressing during early fruit development. For more detailed advice on rates and timings, contact your local Yara Agronomist.

YaraRega AQUAFLEX 13

Tomato (field grown): Exact recommendation depends on soil analysis, yield potential, fertigation practices and nutrient management plan. Refer to your local Yara Agronomist for detailed recommendation.

YaraRega AQUAFLEX 18

Tomato: Exact recommendation depends on soil analysis, yield potential, fertigation practices and nutrient management plan. Refer to your local Yara Agronomist for detailed recommendation.

YaraTera CHELATE 1089

Tomato: Field Grown - Apply 2 kg/ha before planting (can be coated on pre-plant fertilizers) Apply a further 1 kg/ha at 3, 5, 7 weeks after planting. Can also be applied as a foliar application: Up to 150 g/100L water.

YaraTera CHELATE 1090

YaraTera MICROFLEX GA

Tomato: Apply 2 g of YaraTera Microflex GA per 100L of water in the stock solution.

YaraVita BORTRAC 150

Tomato (field grown): Up to 2 l/ha when plants are at 4 to 6 leaf stage. Repeat if necessary at 10 day intervals. Water rate: 50 to 500 l/ha.

YaraVita CALTRAC BZ

Tomato (field grown): One to four applications of 5 l/ha from flowering on second truss onwards up to one month before harvest. Allow 7 days between applications. Water rate: 50 to 500 l/ha.

YaraVita TRI-PHOLATE

Tomato: Apply 2 - 4 kg/ha during the growing season through the irrigation water. Alternatively, apply 0.5 kg/ha as a foliar spray. Repeat at 10 to 14 day intervals as necessary, with a maximum of six applications per season. Water rate: 200 l/ha.