Further studies on the effects of rare earths on growth and fruiting of coconut

Abstract

This paper reports the follow-up study on the effects of the rare earths on coconut. It deals with observations during the early fruiting stage of palms in the various treatments. Using the Control (Hoagland's solution alone) as frame of reference, lanthanum exerted stimulating effects in terms of increased height and girth of trunk, greater distance between homologous leafscars and more numerous fruits (nuts). In comparison, cerium (another representative of the rare earths) had a tentative stimulating effect on the growth in height of the plant during the first 500 days of treatment. But even at this stage the plants showed signs of weakness. In the succeeding period, the plant became very debilitated. However, when the frequency of cerium treatment was reduced (and in fact inadvertently withheld for 2 months) the palm produced much fruit (nut), equaling those of the lanthanum-treated palm. Apparently cerium is a stimulant at very low concentration. Chromium, although not a member of the rare earths, excited characteristics on the treated palm which could be mistaken for symptom? of cadang-cadang; that is, the leaves were very brittle and the crown of leaves tended to be funnel-like, similar to a badminton shuttle-cock.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist

ISSN

317454

Page

154-167

Document Type

Article

Subject

Cadang-cadang, Coconut, Rare earths

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