Specialised Palm Fertilisers (Part 1 of 2)

Fertilisers for palms are specialised in the way that there was supposed to be nutrients that they need more than other type of plants included in the formulation. The palm fertilisers are supposed to have higher amounts of K, Mn and B, and I would add Mg and Mo as well. Some say Fe... but I am not too sure but let's say it should be included as well.

Table 1. Macronutrients and selected micronutrients that should be in fertilisers that claimed to be specialised for palms, and their mobility within plants and soil.

The nutrients and functions in plants are listed as follows (Source: CPH course notes, 2019)

Nitrogen - Component of nucleic acids, DNA, RNA, proteins, hormones, enzymes and chlorophyll

Phosphorus - Component of nucleic acids, ATP, DNA, RNA... The highest levels of P in young plants are found in tissue at the growing point. As plant matures, most P moves into the seeds, fruit or both.

Potassium - Maintenance of ionic balance in plant cells, operation of stomata, help plants adapt to environmental stresses (e.g., higher drought tolerance, better resistance to fungal diseases and insect pests).

Potassium deficiency in Caryota palm (Source: http://idtools.org/id/palms/symptoms/factsheet.php?name=Potassium+Deficiency)

Magnesium - Key component of chlorophyll, enzyme activation.

Magnesium deficiency in Phoenix palm (Source: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/nutdef/report19_Mg-MG.shtml)

Boron - Key component of cell walls and formation of pollen tubes, involved in movement of carbohydrates in pants, enzyme synthesis.

  

Boron deficiency causing bent crown and truncated leaves in palms (Source: http://shadetreeexpert.com/palm-trees/)

Iron - Component of enzymes, needed for chlorophyll synthesis, enzyme activation (nitrogen fixation is effected by enzymes called nitrogenases).

Manganese - Involved in photosynthesis to free oxygen from carbon dioxide.

Manganese defiency causing leaves to appear frizzled (Source: https://www.palmtreepassion.com/mineral-deficiency-in-palms.html)

Molybdenum - Protein synthesis, need for nitrogen fixation for nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Molybdenum deficiency in Brassica leaves causing a "whiptail" appearance, no palm leaf example (Source: https://www.pthorticulture.com/en/training-center/role-of-molybdenum-in-plant-culture/)