Acute zinc deficiency observed in cacao on certain soil types in Netherlands New Guinea.

Abstract

Leaf symptoms in young cacao were observed on two different soil types. On one, a very old, much leached, infertile, quartzitic silty loam, low Zn content was responsible; heavy drought which crippled the root systems made the hidden shortage acute. On the other soil, low Zn content was greatly accentuated by adverse soil conditions which impaired the uptake of Zn by the roots; high pH, excessive PO₄, poor water-retaining capacity in dry weather and poor aeration in the wet season probably induced deficiency. Deficient trees recovered in 7 months with Zn sprays. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)