Soil Boron and Bio - Accumulation in Raphia Palm

Total and available Boron were determined in surface soils from 56 locations on 5 different parent materials in Southern Nigeria. Boron concentrations in leaves of Raphia palms growing in the were also determined. Total, available and plant Boron ranged from 16.0 to 87.0; 0.08 to 2.31; 3.0 to 25.0mg/kg respectively in crystalline metamorphic and igneous rock soils; 22.3 to 69.4; 0.01 to 1.20; 6.0 to 12.0 mg/ kg; in shale mixed with sandstone and clay soils; 22.3 to 69.5; 0.01 to 3.15; 4.0 to 16.0 mg/kg in coastal plain sands soils; 20.3 to 96.0; 0.01 to 1.93; 5.0 to 12.0 mg/kg in coastal alluvium soils and 28.3 to 52.6; 0.01 to 0.43; 3.0 to 12.0 mg/kg in freshwater swamp soils respectively. Percent total boron extractable by hot water varied from 0.46% to 2.5%. From the available Boron data, there is likely an inability of soils in most locations to supply sufficient Boron to support normal plant growth.