Potassium Deficiency of Palms South Floridal In
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19901 BROSCHAT:POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY l5l Principes,34(3), 19S0, pp. 151-155 PotassiumDeficiency of Palmsin South Floridal Truornv K. Bnoscuer Uniaersity of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center 32OS College Auenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 Potassiumdeficiency symptoms in palms Deficiency symptomsof N, P, and Mg are have been documented for economically well known in palms and do not include important food species such as coconut flecking on the foliage (Broeshart et al. palm(Cocosnucifera) and African oil palm 1957,Broschat i984, Bull i958, Manciot (Elaeisguineezsls) (Broeshart et al. I 957, et al. 1979). The K deficiencysymptoms Bull 1961, Manciot et al. 1979) and for described by Broschat (1984) for five someornamental palms (Broschat l9B4). species of ornamental palms included Yet even with this information on K defi- necrotic spotting and streaking, but no ciency symptomology available, the exis- translucent yellow flecking. Potassium tence of widespreadK deficiency in south deficiencysymptoms of most plants consist Florida palms has gone undetected for of a marginal necrosisof the oldestleaves, decades.Marlatt (1980), Dickey (I977), although Broeshart et al. (I957), B,rll and Street and Gamon (1983) point out (1961), and Manciot et al. (1979) have that south Florida soils are extremely defi- described leaf spotting symptoms similar cient in K, yet they do not report K defi- to those describedin this paper associated ciency on any ornamental plants in south with potassium deficiency in C. nucifera Florida, much less on palms. and E guineensis. Palm growers have often wondered about Close examination of palms growing the cause of the translucent yellow or under field conditions at the Fort Lauder- orangg flecking they observeon the oldest dale Research and Education Center leaves of palms. Pathologistshave never showed a wide range of symptoms which been able to isolate pathogensfrom these varied among species.For some species, spotsand unlike most biotic diseases,these only translucent yellowishflecking in vary- symptomsare confinedto the oldestleaves ing degreesof severity was observedand of the palm. Many people believed these marginal and tip necrosiswere rarely seen symptoms were the result of natural leaf (upper left, Back Cover). In other species senescenceand were therefore not pre- necrotic streaks, spots, or flecks exist, but ventable.However, palms growing in other chlorotic areas were not present (upper parts of the world often do not show these right, Back Cover). In still other species symptoms. This fact, plus the restriction no flecking or streaking of any kind was of these symptoms to the oldest leaveso observed,but marginal and/ or tip necrosis suggeststhat the problem may be caused were the primary symptoms (lower left, by a nutritional toxicity or a deficiency of Back Cover). In most species,however, a mobile element such as N, P, K, or Mg. translucent yellow flecking appears to be the earliest symptom of K deficiency and occurs on mildly affectedleaves or towards I Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal the base of more severely affected leaves. SeriesNo. 9893. As the deficiencyprogresses, the spotsmay r52 PRINCIPES lVoL. 34 coalesce and marginal necrosis may appear forsteriana, and Chamaedorea seifrizii on the leaflets. This intermediate stage with standardsestablished for those species appears on moderately affected leaves or showedall were deficient in K (H. Poole, on the middle leaflets of more severely pers. comm.) Establishedminimum K con- affected leaves. The most severely affected centrationsfor recently matured leavesare leaves (the oldest on the palm) will often I.2To for C. seifrizii, I.27o for C. lutes- have entire leaflets withered and frizzled cens,0.597o for H. for sterianaoand' 0.7 4% in appearance (lower right, Back Cover). for E. guineensis.Leaf samplesfrom palms These symptoms somewhat resemble those showing symptoms averaged 0.457o, of Mn deficiency except for the lack of O.BBTa,0.5570, and O'487oK, resPec- size reduction in affected leaves and the tively for these species. Since specific fact that these symptoms occur on the symptomology varies widely among palrn oldest leaves first rather than the newest. speciesosymptoms for 52 speciesof palms As with Mn deficiency, K deficiency is grown in south Florida are listed in the capable of killing palms if not treated. appendix. Severely affected palms of most species As an element, K is highly soluble and also tend to hold fewer leaves than healthy is readily leached from the sandy soils of oalms. south Florida. Container media or soils Potassium deficiency, like Mg defi- having higher cation exchange capacities ciency, occurs on the margins of the oldest can retain K against leaching and for this leaves of palms and from a distance the reason,K deficiency is much less common two deficiencies may sometimes be con- in container-grownpalms and in other palm fused. However, Mg-deficient palms never growing regions of the United States. show any flecking or marginal necrosis and Imbalancesbetween K and other nutrient symptoms usually appear as a distinct broad elementssuch as N, Ca, and Mg can also yellow band around the periphery of an causeK deficiency(Dickey I977). In south otherwise green leaf. The discoloration Florida the problem of K deficiency is sometimes associated with K deficiency accentuatedby the use of landscapefer- may occur throughout the leaf, or if not, tilizers having slow release N fertilizer is never sharply delimited from a green sourcesthat last up to three or four months, leaf center as is the case with Mg defi- but water-solubleK sourceswhich can be ciency. Unfortunately, both Mg and K completely leached through a sandy soil deficiencies are widespread in south Flor- with one or two heavy irrigationsor rains. ida and symptoms of both may occur on At the FLREC, where such fertilizers have the same leaf, thereby making diagnosis been used for years, the problem of K more difficult. deficiency is much more severe than in Potassium deficiency was confirmed by landscapeswhich received no fertilizer at leaf nutrient analysis for some of the species all. Iisted in this article. Comparisons of sim- Unlike Mg deficiency which is difficult ilar-aged leaves with and without symp- to correct in palms, K-deficient palms toms for Dictyosperma album Yar. con- respondrapidly to K fertilization. Addition jugatum, Chrysalidocar pus lutescerus, of resin-coatedcontrolled-release potas- severely deficient Howea forsteriana, Elaeis guineensis, sium sulfate to Cocos nucifera, and Neodypsis decaryi Hyophorbe oerschafeltii and Chrysali- showed that leaves showing symptoms had docarpus lutescensresulted in a signifi- less than half the K concentration of cant increasein the number of greenleaves apparently healthy leaves. Comparison of on the plants within four or five months. K concentrations in leaves showing symp- Controlledrelease K fertilizers are the best toms of E. guineensis, C. lutescens, H. materials for preventing and correcting K r9901 BROSCHAT:POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY r53 deficiency in south Florida since they are Bnoscser, T. K. 1984. Nutrient deficiency symp- not readily leached by heavy rainfall or toms in frve species of palms grown as foliage irrigation. Both sulfur-coated and resin- plants. Principes28:6 14. Burr, R. A. 1958. Symptoms of calcium and phos- coated potassium sulfate are produced phorus deficiency in oil palm seedlings.Nature commercially and should be suitable for 182: 1749-175O. use on south Florida's sandy soils. Foliar BULL, R. A. 196I. Studieson the deficiencydis- sprays with potassiumnitrate, potassium eases of the oil palm. 2. Macronutrient defi- ciency symptoms in oil chloride, potassiumsulfate, potassiumace- palm seedlingsgrown in sand culture. J. West African Inst. Oil Palm tate, and potassium citrate on severely Res.3: 254-264. deficient C. lutescensdid not significantly Dtcrny, R. D. 1977. Nutritional deficiencies of increase leaf K concentrations over that woody ornamental plants used in Florida land- of control plants. Thus it appearsthat soil scapes.Univ. Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 79I. Mancror, E., M. OrrecNrEn, eNo R. OCHS. 1979. application of controlled-releaseK fertil- Mineral nutrition and fertilization of the coconut izers is the most effective treatment for K around the world. Oleagineaux 34: 576-580. deficiency in south Florida palms. As with Menrerr, R. B. 1980. Noncontagiousdiseases of Mg deficiency,however, old affectedleaves tropical foliage plants. Univ. Ela. Agr. Exp. Sta. Ext. will never recover from their symptoms. Bull. 8I2. Srnrrr, J. J. eNo N. GelroN. 1983. Plant nutrient deficiencysymptoms. Univ. Fla. Coop. Ext. Serv. Lrrnnerunu Crrno Circ.435. BnonsneRr,H., J. D. Frnwnnoe,aNo W. G.Kove- cHIcH. 1957. Mineral deficiency symptoms o{ the oil palm. Plant Soil 8: 289 300. Appendix Potassium deficiency symptoms for 52 speciesof palms. All symptoms described pertain to oldest leaves on palms. Relative susceptibility is based on observationsof palms growing under similar conditiom at the FLREC. Acoelorrhaphe urightii oldest leaves generally off-color with raised necrotic spots feeling like pustules. Some necrotic streaking. Moderately susceptible. Allagoptera arenaria-some orange and necrotic flecking near leaflet tips followed by tip necrosis. Slightly gusceptible. Archontophoenix alexandrae light yellow flecking becoming generally chlorotic with necrotic spotting and marginal and tip necrosis on most severely affected leaves. Slightly susceptible. Areca