Boron deficiency in cacao, bananas and other crops on volcanic soils of Ecuador.

Abstract

B deficiency destroyed imported varieties of cacao at the start of their productive stage; local varieties usually survived though B deficiency affected production and made them susceptible to disease. Bananas on young volcanic terraces were B-deficient and their leaf canopy and quality were affected. Arabica and robusta coffee, avocado pear, mango, Chinese cabbage, lucerne, trefoil, potato, sweet clover and apple were also deficient in B in these soils. The soil consists of thick layers of loose volcanic ashes; heavy rains during 4-6 months leach all the soil B and bring no fresh B with them. Drought occurs in the second half of the year; drought is known to aggravate B-deficiency by increasing the critical B content of plants. High Ca levels in the soil also worsen B deficiency. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)