Re: CULT: Borax as soil additive?
- Subject: [iris] Re: CULT: Borax as soil additive?
- From: Linda Mann l*@volfirst.net
- Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 11:45:44 -0400
- List-archive: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris/> (Web Archive)
Ellen, I have used Borax as a source of boron years ago when I was
growing corn. It was in the soil analysis recommendation.
The amounts recommended were miniscule tho, so be careful - boron
toxicity is more likely to be a problem than boron insufficiency. I
think the amount I was supposed to use was something like one pound per
acre, which translated to less than a teaspoon for the entire area I had
planted in corn. I mixed it with wood ashes or cornmeal or something
relatively inert to make sure I spread it properly.
One of the things I ran across (on the web, I think) when we were
discussing trace elements here before was the high requirement of
alfalfa for boron. The information I read suggested trying to grow
alfalfa, which will readily show deficiency if there is any.
I took a different approach, assuming that if alfalfa requires boron
levels to be fairly high in order to grow well, then alfalfa pellets
must contain some boron, and probably is as good a source of boron as
anything. Plus if I put too much on, it shouldn't hurt anything. And I
already knew for sure that my soil is boron deficient.
Then I ran into the problem several of us have noticed with ill effects
from top-dressing with alfalfa pellets (i.e., rot, leaf spot, general
ick).
Bottom line - my suggestion is to have your soil tested for Boron or
better yet, call your local ag extension or equivalent and ask if boron
is deficient in your general area for crops that require relatively high
levels of boron (i.e., corn, alfalfa). If they say yes, use alfalfa
pellets, buried under the plant, not top dressed.
Gypsum is not chemically related to boron - gypsum is calcium sulfate.
Borax is sodium borate. I can't imagine why your source said they were
similar. Maybe the minerals look similar to the naked eye???
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
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