As one of the chemical elements that make up our planet, boron is all around us—in soil and water, plants and animals—in trace amounts. Watch the video
Boron is a naturally occurring element in soil, where it originates from minerals in the earth’s crust. Large deposits formed over many years, with high concentrations of borates encapsulated in nonpermeable layers of clay. As a water-soluble element, boron’s availability and boron levels in soil depend on several factors:
The total boron level in soil can be categorized as low boron (less than 10 mg B/kg of soil) or high boron (around 100 mg/kg). The average overall concentration of boron in all soil ranges from 10 to 20 mg/kg; extremely high-boron soils are rare.
It’s important to note that not all the boron that is present is available (for use by plants, for example). The available level of boron can range anywhere from 0.1 to 3 mg/kg of soil. In some parts of the world, soil sits on top of rock with a high boron content, which can create boron-enriched topsoil and groundwater. However, most boron is either locked inside insoluble minerals or firmly attached to other components, such as clay or organic matter. For this reason, boron deficiency is more widespread than boron enrichment.
In the atmosphere, boron has been detected in measurable (albeit minimal) quantities in evaporation from seawater; evaporation of rain, snow, and hot springs; and in industrial airborne dust. In rain and snow, for example, boron has been reported in concentrations of between 0.002 and 0.1 mg B/L.
People didn’t know about mineral nutrients when they first started growing crops more than 10,000 years ago. Only during the past century or so have scientists and farmers discovered the seven essential micronutrients—boron among them—that plants need to grow.
At the cellular level, boron is integral to a plant’s reproductive cycle. Boron controls flowering, pollen production, germination, and seed and fruit development. As a micronutrient, boron also acts as a fuel pump, helping move sugars from older leaves to new growth areas and root systems.
Plants get the boron they need from soil and water. In fact, they can’t live without it. For humans, experts agree that boron is nutritionally important, and mounting evidence suggests that boron may be an essential element in our diet as well.
Learn more about how boron makes modern life possible
Whether in the food on your table, the car you’re driving, or clothes you’re wearing—you’re probably within touching distance of something containing or produced by using boron right now. Discover how this amazing element—and the refined, reliable products that U.S. Borax makes from it—enable our modern lives.
