What to Do About Boron Deficiency in Cucumbers? Detailed Explanation of Causes and Control Methods
Cucumber is one of the vegetables with a relatively high boron requirement, and boron is one of the keys to cucumber's growth and development, flowering and fruiting, and seed development period. As the application rate of chemical fertilizers gradually increases, the boron element in the soil decreases, hindering cucumber's absorption of boron and causing a serious impact on cucumber's yield and quality. So what should be done about boron deficiency in cucumbers? Let's take a look.
1. Symptoms of Boron Deficiency
Boron deficiency causes the root system of cucumbers to be poorly developed, with weak water and fertilizer absorption capacity, and the plant grows slowly or poorly. The flowers are relatively small and there will be a large amount of early flower drop. The internodes near the growing nodes will appear shortened, the new leaves will curl outward, the leaf margins will turn brown, and the leaf veins will also show signs of shrinkage. Some leaves will also develop large mottled spots. The fruit has no spots on it, but the interior will be hollow with a corky texture.
2. Causes of Boron Deficiency
The main cause is the soil. If it is planted on acidic soil, applying a large amount of lime at one time when adjusting the pH can very easily lead to boron deficiency. Soil that is too dry will also affect the root system's absorption of the boron element, making boron deficiency likely to occur. Soil with low organic matter content has a low boron content, thus causing boron deficiency. Improper fertilization, such as over-application of nitrogen fertilizer, will hinder the root system's absorption of the boron element. During the fruiting period, excessive potassium fertilizer should not be applied, as it will also hinder the root system's absorption of boron and easily cause boron deficiency.
3. Control Methods
If the soil is deficient in boron, boron fertilizer should be applied as a top dressing in time. When applying base fertilizer, apply about 1 kg of borax per mu as a top dressing, which can also meet the boron demand of cucumbers throughout the entire growth period. When the soil is dry, water in time, but pay attention to the amount. When the soil moisture content is relatively high, boron is easily lost, so drainage measures should be taken well during the rainy season to avoid large losses of boron. Fertilization should be carried out according to the fertilizer needs of the plant at each growth stage, and it is not advisable to over-apply any single type. If boron deficiency occurs in the later stage, borax can be diluted with water and sprayed as a foliar fertilizer, which can quickly supplement boron.
The above is an introduction to what to do about boron deficiency in cucumbers. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.