FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, vol.25, no.10, pp.4294-4298, 2016 (SCI-Expanded)
The effect of excess boron (B) on growth and nutrient content in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were investigated due to the evaulate the capacity of cv. Sirena for phytomining. Study was carried out in a green house conditions to assess the impact of increasing levels of boron (B) on cv. Sirena. The soil was treated with 0, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 mg kg(-1) B as H3BO3. Results indicated that plant growth was depressed with the increasing level of B. The highest B uptake was obtained from 64 mg kg(-1) B level with 695.2 mg kg(-1). Increasing B also enhanced calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents in sunflower shoots but led to decrease in sodium (Na) and potassium (K) uptake. Results also revealed that the sunflower cv. Sirena did not germinate at the highest boron level (128 mg kg(-1)). The results of this study indicate that cv. Sirena could be cultivated in soils containing B up to 8 mg kg(-1).