Agronomic performance of beet as a function of fertilization with boron

Abstract

Boron (B) is a micronutrient that plays a role in the growth and development of plants. In beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.), B allows increased yield and accumulation of dry mass. This work aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of beetroot fertigated with B in the municipality of Mossoró, RN. To this end, two field experiments were conducted in Mossoró, RN, Brazil, designed in complete randomized blocks. Five doses of B (0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 kg ha−1 of B) were tested, with four replications. The treatments did not influence the plants’ height, the number of leaves per plant, or the postharvest quality characteristics of the tuberous root. The maximum total and commercial yield of tuberous roots was 22.22 and 21.29 t ha−1, respectively, fertilizing with 4.0 kg ha−1 of B. This dose also promoted the highest accumulation of B in the plant. Using doses above those evaluated can promote greater yield of tuberous beetroot. Therefore, further studies are necessary to determine the recommended dose of B for beets grown in semi-arid regions.