Iron deficiency in mature oil palms in Riau, Sumatra (Indonesia)
1998
Setyobudi, H. | Lihanaswan, S. | Wanasuria, S.
Iron deficiency was observed in nine-year-old palms in two estates in northern Riau. The soil was a histic tropaquept with sand underlay. The characteristic symptom was interveinal chlorosis of the youngest fronds which turned completely white at a later stage. Severe deficiency would lead to stagnation of growth and ultimately death of the palm. Total iron content in the leaves could be used to indicate the iron status of the palm. Critical iron concentration in frond-17 was around 50 ppm Fe; below this level, Fe deficiency was very likely. Soil Fe applications at a rate of 3 kg FeSO4 per palm did not correct the iron deficiency, indicating serious iron uptake problem. Foliar spraying with 0.53 percent of FeSO4 was effective in regreening the chlorotic leaves, but the spraying had to be repeated every month to prevent the recurrence of the chlorosis on the new leaves. One time application of root absorption at a rate of 15 g FeSO4 50 ml/palm (using one root) was very effective in correcting and preventing iron deficiency for at least 9 months and possibly longer. This method has been used successfully by the two estates to control Fe chlorosis
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