Pencil Point Disorder in Coconut
Pencil Point Disorder is a serious physiological issue in coconut palms, primarily caused by deficiencies in essential micronutrients like zinc and copper. Affected palms show narrowing of the trunk toward the crown, giving a pencil-like shape, reduced leaf size, and poor yield. Nutritional imbalance within the system exacerbates the problem. To manage this disorder, applying a micronutrient mix containing iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, and molybdenum twice a year is essential. Additionally, root feeding with coconut tonic helps revive affected palms. Early diagnosis and corrective nutrition are key to preventing yield loss and maintaining palm health.
Pencil point disorder is becoming a significant physiological problem that is severely affecting coconut palms. This disorder is primarily linked to micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of zinc and copper. An imbalance in the nutrition provided within the coconut production system can also contribute to this issue. The disorder causes the trunk to be uneven in thickness, tapering towards the top and resembling a pencil point, with fewer leaves. The leaves are notably smaller, and the palms fail to produce an economically viable yield. To address this problem, it is recommended to apply a micronutrient mixture containing 225 grams each of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, and molybdenum salts, twice a year. Additionally, root feeding with 200 ml of coconut tonic per palm, twice a year, can help mitigate the disorder.
