NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY

SYMPTOMS IN COCONUT

Paper delivered by Marianita N. Eroy, PCA-DRC/ASD during the Specialized Course on

Coconut Agro-Technology and Extension for PCA Agriculturists (Mindanao PCA
Regions) on April 16-20,2012 at PCA-CETC, Davao City
LEARNINGS
Role of essential elements for crop
growth
Importance of mineral nutrition
Diagnosing nutrient needs of coconut
Things to consider in coconut
fertilization
Sustaining soil health
 Optimum conditions for coconut production
Factors Description
Soil Moisture Field capacity moisture and available moisture of 12-
15%. Waterlogged conditions for more than a week is
growth limiting and yield reducing

Soil Drainage Well drained and well-aerated at all times. Root

respiration impaired and plant physiology abnormal
under waterlogged condition.

Soil pH Soil acidity of 5.5-6.5 pH

Soil Depth >75 cm (top and subsoil)

Soil Texture Sandy, Loamy and clayey with at least 2% OM

Soil Fertility
 Palm Nutrition :
 17 Essential elements -
needed for the
completion of the plant’s
life cycle
 3 non-mineral elements
(CHO)
 Directly involve in plant
metabolism

Ni nickel
 How to diagnose nutrient needs
Visual symptoms
Soil testing of toxicity or
deficiency

foliar diagnosis
Nitrogen deficiency and symptoms

 General yellowing
of all leaves
starting from lower
mature leaves
 Retarded growth &
short leaves
 Delayed fruiting &
reduced nut yield
 Abortion of
inflorescence & low
female flower count
 Premature yellowing &
drying > older leaves;
young leaves remain
green. In advanced
stages, lower leaves >
reddish orange that
droop
 Few spathes and small
nuts
 Leaflets have tiny dark
rust like spots along the
midrib
Chlorine deficiency & symptoms
Few leaves with
narrow leaflets
Few and small nuts
with thin meat
Early drooping of
leaves during
drought
Susceptible to leaf
spot disease
Positive effects of Chlorine on nut of palms:
increase in size of nut, thickness of meat
Sulfur deficiency & symptoms

•Leaves > yellowish-

orange to orange due
to anthocyanin
accumulation in the
lower leaves
•Premature drying of
leaflets
•Rubbery copra
•Faster deterioration of
copra in storage
 Calcium Phosphorus
 Abnormal  Retarded growth
growth >  leaf color changes
youngest leaves from dark green to
(very active dull grayish green ,
growing points burning signs at leaf
or tips of the margins
palm
Magnesium deficiency & symptoms
 At early stage,
symptom is similar to
potassium deficiency
 Faster yellowing &
drying of leaflets more
exposed to sunlight
 Reddish brown
starting from the tips
towards the petiole at
advanced stage
 Leaves under shade
remain green
Boron deficiency & symptoms
 Affects actively growing
tissues (meristems)
 Little-leaf
 Abnormal splitting of
leaflets
 Frizzled leaves
 At advanced stage,
growing tips show
blackening: growth failure
and death of tissues
Iron deficiency & symptoms
 Uniform chlorosis
or yellowing of
younger leaves
 Common in
calcareous soils
(high pH >7.5)
and in peat
soils
Copper deficiency & symptoms
 Upper crown
leaves turn
yellowish (not
general); petioles
are arc shape &
lack turgidity
 Premature leaflet
drying and necrosis
of tips to petiole
 Lamina along
midribs remain
green
 Manganese Zinc
Deformed leaves
 Symptoms Low rates of stem
similar to elongation
Iron Interveinal chlorosis of
deficiency the leaves (pale green,
 Small stiff yellow or whitish in color)
Premature leaf fall due
leaves
to shoot death