Articles
Boron Deficiency In Young Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) In Sri Lanka Symptoms and Corrective Measures
Authors:
K. S. JAYASEKARA ,
COCOS, LK
About K. S.
Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka.
P. LOGANATHAN
LK
About P.
Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka.
Abstract
Apart from N, P, K, and Mg deficiencies in coconut so far observed in Sri Lanka,
boron (B) deficiency was observed in 12 young coconut palms of age 1-3 y at Poojapitiya
in Kandy district. The symptoms were : Unsplit, crinkled nature of leaflets; stunted
and withered apical leaves; lack of leaflets in some fronds. The third leaf of the affected
palms had 3.4—7.5 ppm B as compared to 7.6—10.0 ppm B for healthy palms in the
same vicinity. Soil application of sodium tetraborate (Na2B04 . 5H20) at the rate
of 28 and 56 g/palm to the affected palms at incipient stages improved the condition of
palms within six months and complete recovery was achieved at the end of eight
months. However, the symptoms in the untreated affected palms gradually became acute
and the palms died after 6-8 months. Results suggest that the critical nutrient concentration
range for B in the third leaf is 8-10 ppm and the deficiency could be corrected
only at the incipient stages by soil application of sodium tetraborate.
doi: 10.4038/cocos.v6i1.2053
COCOS 1988 Vol.6 No.1 31-37
How to Cite:
JAYASEKARA, K.S. and LOGANATHAN, P., 2010. Boron Deficiency In Young Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) In Sri Lanka Symptoms and Corrective Measures. COCOS, 6, pp.31–37. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cocos.v6i0.2053
Published on
06 Jul 2010.
Peer Reviewed
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