Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T01:30:25.692Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mineral composition of leaflets in relation to the chlorosis and bronzing of oil palms in West Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. B. Hale
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts

Extract

Some disorders causing chlorosis and necrosis of the foliage of oil palms from three West African estates have been investigated by spectrochemical analysis of the dry leaflets for potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese.

Statistical examination of the chemical analyses of leaflets from fronds of different ages, and from different positions along the frond, shows that it is important to sample and analyse separately at least upper, middle and lower fronds from each tree. Little is gained by analysing separately samples from different positions along the length of the frond.

The ‘bronzing’ diseases are tentatively ascribed to deficiency of potassium. One palm is probably a case of combined magnesium and potassium deficiency. One disease, ‘lemon frond’, cannot be attributed to a deficiency of any of the elements determined.

The differences in mineral composition of the leaflets between palms from the three estates are greater than those due to the diseases and a further survey is proposed to determine the range of variation of composition of healthy trees and the levels below which deficiencies set in.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1947

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Lundegardh, H. (1934). Die Quantitative Spektral analyse der Elemente, vol. 2. Jena.Google Scholar
Lundegardh, H. (1936). Investigations into the quantitative emission spectral analysis of inorganic elements in solution. Lantbr. Ann. 3, 49.Google Scholar
Mitchell, R. L. (1936). Spectrographic analysis by the Lundegardh method. J. Soc. Chem. Ind., Lond., 55, 267 T.Google Scholar