Boron and Potassium have overlapping roles to play in plant physiology and hence are synergistic. Like Potassium, Boron is also involved in some aspect of flowering and fruiting processes, pollen germination, cell division, nitrogen metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, active salt absorption, hormone movement and action, water metabolism and the water relations in plants.

The presence of high levels of sodium in the soil (which is common in most cotton growing areas) is determinantal to the growth of any crop. This is due to reverse osmosis created due to high negative water potential around the rhizosphere. This leads to desiccation of plants and improper or highly reduced mineral and water uptake due to the impact on the roots. This will have its adverse effect on the total photosynthetic potential of the plants causing yield and quality decline.

This trial has been conducted in collaboration with the CRDC and leading cotton grower, Vitonga Pty Ltd in identifying why some paddocks are producing 16 bales/Ha of cotton and on the same farm, other paddocks drop off to 11-12 bales/Ha under the same management practices.

In soil analysis, the paddocks producing 16 bale crops consistently, the Potassium:Sodium ratio is believed to be a critical factor impacting the yield. In those high yielding paddocks, the ratio in meq/100g soil for the Potassium:Sodium ratio was 2:1, while in field 7 where the trial was conducted, the ratio was 1.05:1 (ideal would be 1.4:1). In addition, soil analysis found that the Calcium:Boron ratio at in field 7 was 4038:1. This Calcium:Boron ratio indicates a significant Boron deficiency exists in the soil.