Soil boron: Retention and release of added boron by some New Zealand soils

Abstract

Adsorption and desorption of added boron by some NZ. soils with constrasting organic matter levels and clay mineralogy was studied. The soils include some which are known to be marginally boron deficient. Considerable differences were found between soils which were related to the adsorption/desorption behaviour of various soil components including a humic acid extract, phyllosilicate clay minerals (illite, montmorillonite and kaolinite), and short-range order oxides (protoimogolite and ferrihydrite). The implications of the differences in boron adsorption/desorption characteristics, on the environmental chemistry of boron will be discussed