TY - JOUR 
AU - Muhammad Irfan
AU - Muhammad Abbas
AU - Javaid Ahmed Shah
AU - Nizamuddin Depar
AU - Muhammad Yousuf Memon
AU - Niaz Ali Sial
TI - Interactive effect of phosphorus and boron on plant growth, nutrient accumulation and grain yield of wheat grown on calcareous soil
JO - Eurasian Journal of Soil Science
VL - 8
IS - 1
PB - Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies 
SN - 2147-4249 
UR - http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/484654
DO - 10.18393/484654
SP , EP - 17 - 26
KW  - Boron nutrition, grain yield, nutrient interaction, synergism, wheat.
PY  - 2018
AB  - Most of the arable soils in Pakistan are deficient in plant available phosphorus (P) and boron (B) primarily due to alkaline and calcareous nature along with low organic matter. A combined deficiency of these nutrients may intensify the plant growth suppression by reducing their efficient utilization. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the interactive effect of P and B on growth, nutrient accumulation and grain yield of wheat grown on calcareous soil. Wheat crop was grown at three P levels (45, 90 and 135 kg P ha-1) in combination with five B levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg B ha-1) following completely randomized design. The results revealed that yield and yield related attributes increased linearly with the addition of B at each P level. Nonetheless, the significant interactive effect of both nutrients was most pronounced in the treatment having 90 kg P ha-1 and 1.5 kg B ha-1. Applied B rates resulted in relatively higher P concentration in grains and straw at P level of 90 kg ha-1 contrarily to 45 and 135 kg P ha-1. The B concentration in grains and straw increased with corresponding addition of B at each P level but at variable rate, with the maximum response at higher P level. Grain and straw yield illustrated positive correlation with total P uptake (R2 = 0.96 and 0.81) and total B uptake (R2 = 0.95 and 0.70) respectively. Likewise, positive correlation (R2 = 0.94) between total P uptake and total B uptake under combined application of P and B indicated their synergistic relationship. Overall, the treatment combination of 90 kg P ha-1 with 1.5 kg B ha-1 was found as the most suitable dose for better plant growth, nutrient accumulation and grain yield of wheat.
ER  -