Boron: Spatial Distribution in an Area of North Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract

Boron (B) toxicity might be a problem, especially in dry regions of the world, however; its distribution still largely unappreciated and ignored by soil and crop scientists. Therefore, this study aimed to assess B spatial distribution in an area of northern Nile Delta, the most fertile and populated area in Egypt. Soil B was extracted by Mehilch-3 extraction and measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP). The mean B concentration was recorded as 5.19, 6.04, and 6.41 ug/g in surface (S), subsurface (Ss), and lower (L) layers, respectively. . The data were interpolated in ArcGIS software. The highest B concentration was observed in the central part of this area, which may be attributed to many reasons such as pollution sources and management practices. Our results indicated that more than 50% of the studied area highly concentrated in B, which represents a threat to soil and ecosystems in North Nile Delta.