Copper deficiency and its correction in commercial oil palm plantings
2002
Arif S. | Goh K.J., Applied Agricultural Research Sdn. Bhd., Locked Bag 212, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor (Malaysia)
As a result of expansion of oil palm plantings into marginal soils such as peat and sandy soils, the occurance of Cu deficiency has become prominent on these soils. The main characteristics of Cu deficiency are chlorosis, necrosis and desiccation of pinnae tips. Affected fronds are shorter and palms show a flat top and stunted appearance. Cu deficient palms have low leaf Cu concentration and high leaf ash (%) and leaf P (%). The soils tend extremely high organic. C in peat with high C/N ratio and available P apart from the low soil Cu content. The critical leaf Cu concentration is below 2 mg kg¹ and critical soil Cu is below 3 mg kg¹. Four methods, namely foliar spray with 0.025% Cu-EDTA or 0.05% CuSO, soil application of 75g CuSO in planting hole and 100g CuSO on soil surface for the first 3 to 5 years, root infusion with 15 mg CuSO in 50ml water and Cu mudball consisting of 1 kg clay and 100g CuSO, are recommended.
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