Boron Rate and Timing on Runner Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Boron is required during peanut growth to ensure optimal quality, yield, and value. Deficiency can result in internal seed damage, which is often referred to as “hollow heart”; however, toxicity is also a common problem. Boron applied at the correct rate is necessary to prevent boron deficiency or toxicity, but recommendations have not been re-evaluated for newer and larger peanut cultivars. The objective was to evaluate the effect of boron rate and timing recommendations on peanut grade, yield, and seed quality in currently produced runner peanuts. Field trials were conducted in 2015 and 2016 under irrigation at the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center (WREC) in Headland, AL, using common boron fertilizers and Georgia-06G peanuts. Boron was evaluated in single and split applications at rates of 0.28, 0.56, and 1.12 kg B ha^-1 using Borosol-10 (Loveland Products, Loveland, CO) at early and mid-bloom. Solubor (U.S. Borax, Denver, CO) was evaluated at 1.12 and 2.24 kg B ha^-1 at early bloom in a single application. Lastly, Boron Xtra (Custom Ag Formulators, Inc., Fresno, CA) was applied at product recommended rate of 0.025 kg B ha^-1 at early bloom. Results indicate that Solubor applied at the higher rate was the most effective treatment for increasing boron in leaf tissue. Single and split applications at equal overall rates did not differ in boron levels in leaf tissue; however, split application treatments resulted in slightly higher boron levels in the seed compared to the single application treatments. No difference in yield was observed among the treatments.