Chapter 3.5, Problem 13E

Reminder Round all answers to two decimal places unless otherwise indicated.

Boron Uptake Many factors influence a plant’s uptake of boron from the soil, but one key factor is soil type. One ${\mathrm{e}\mathrm{x}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{m}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{t}}^{40}$ compared plant content C of boron, in parts per million, with the amount B, in parts per million, of water-soluble boron in the soil. In Decatur silty clay, the relation is given by $C=33.78+37.5B$.

In Hartsells fine sandy loam, the relation is given by $C=31.22+71.17B$.

a. What amount of available water-soluble boron will result in the same plant content of boron for Decatur silty clay and Hartsells fine sandy loam? (If you choose to solve this problem graphically, we suggest a horizontal span of 0 to 0.5 for B)

b. For available boron amounts larger than that found in part a, which of the two soil types results in the larger plant content of boron?