The interactions between K, B and Sr were examined on calcareous chernozem adobe soil in the Nagyhörcsök Experiment Site of the Institute for Soil Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Mezőföld between 2001–2004. The K levels were adjusted with repeated K2O doses of 0, 1000 and 2000 kg ha-1, B levels with repeated doses of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1 and Sr levels with a dose of kg ha-1. The applied fertilisers were 60% KCl, 11% Borax and 33% SrCl2×6H2O salt. The following plot distribution was used in the experiment: main plot: 3K treatment, subplot: 4B treatment, sub-subplot: 2Sr treatment. 24 treatments and 3 replications were applied, resulting in 72 plots with split-plot design.

At the time of establishing the experiment in the autumn of 1987, the ploughed layer contained 5% CaCO3, 3% humus and 20% clay, with the following parameters: pH(H2O) was 7.8, pH(KCl) 7.3, AL-K2O: 180–200, AL-P2O5: 100–120, KCl-soluble Mg: 110–150, KCl+EDTA soluble Mn: 60–80, Cu and Zn: 1–2; B: 0.7 mg kg-1. The production site had satisfactory levels of K, Ca, B, Mg; moderate levels of N and P and weak levels of Zn and Cu. The groundwater level is 13–15 m and the area is drought-sensitive. The mean temperature is 11 oC and the yearly precipitation sum is 400–600 mm with uneven distribution. Main statements and conclusions to be draw:

– The straw yield of triticale increased by 1 t ha-1 with improving K supply. As a result of the drought in the generative development phase, grain yield showed no change. The “satisfactory” level of K supply was due to the 150–200 mg kg-1 AL-soluble K2O content in the ploughed layer. B and Sr treatments did not affect the yield mass.

– As a result of the increasing K supply in the soil, the incorporation of Mg, Na, B, Ca and Sr into the straw decreased. B fertilisation increased the B content of the straw and grain multiple times, while the amount of Na increased and the Mg decreased in the straw.

– The amount of N, P, S, Mg, Zn and Cu increased in the grain yield and straw accumulated the majority of the examined microelements in addition to K and Ca. The unit or specific element content of 1 t grain and its related secondary yield was 26–50–18–4–4=N–P2O5– K2O–CaO–MgO kg t-1.

– Our data can be used for the calculation of the element need (expected yield) of triticale in consultancy.

– The NH4-acetate+EDTA-soluble B stock significantly increased as a result of B fertilisation after 8–9 years, while K fertilisation resulted in the increase of K stock and Sr doses led to increased Sr stock in the ploughed layer. The conventional AL-K2O content was similar to the NH4-acetate+EDTA-soluble content in this soil.

Keywords: potassium, boron, strontium, element uptake, triticale