Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science
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Pertanika · Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science

Official journal of Universiti Putra Malaysia for peer-reviewed research across tropical agriculture and allied agricultural sciences.

e-ISSN 2231-8542 ISSN 1511-3701
Research article

Screening for Optimum Concentrations of Boron, Copper and Manganese for the Growth of Three-Month Old Oil Palm Seedlings in Solution Culture

Tengoua, F. F., Hanafi, M. M., Idris, A. S. and Syed-Omar, S. R.

KeywordsBoron, copper, Hoagland`s solution, manganese, oil palm seedlings
Article content

Abstract

Micronutrient application has been in general overlooked in oil palm fertilisation programmes. Considering the importance of a balanced fertiliser in plant nutrition, it was necessary to determine the requirements of important micronutrients for their further recommendation in oil palm fertilisation programmes to ensure better growth and good yield. An experiment was conducted to identify the optimum concentrations of B, Cu and Mn for the growth of oil palm seedlings. The concentrations tested were 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1 and 2 mg B /L; 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg Cu /L; 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg Mn /L. Germinated oil palm seeds were supplied with different concentrations of the selected micronutrients for three months in soilless culture. The assessment of the growth and physiological parameters showed that 2 mg/L for both B and Cu gave better response, while all the tested Mn concentrations were suppressive to the growth of oil palm seedlings. Therefore, 2 mg/L for both B and Cu and a minimal concentration of 2 mg Mn/L are being tested in new experiments in single and different possible combinations on nutritional, biochemical and growth parameters of oil palm seedlings from two to eight months for their future incorporation in oil palm fertilisers