Enhancing the nutritional management of boron in oil palm crops through a comprehensive evaluation of its dynamics in different plant organs

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the rates of B accumulation, immobilization, recycling, and exportation in oil palm plants at different cultivation ages and in various organs. The study was conducted in oil palm plantations owned by Agropalma S/A in the municipality of Tailândia, Pará State, Brazil. A completely randomized design was used, with four replications and seven treatments, representing plant ages ranging from 2 to 8 years of planting. The dynamics of B were evaluated in different plant organs, including petioles, rachis, leaflets, cabbage (palm heart), stipe, peduncles, arrows, male inflorescences, spikelets, and fruits. The findings showed that cabbage had the highest B concentration in the vegetative organs, while male inflorescences had the highest levels in the reproductive organs. Notably, stipe and fruits were the vegetative and reproductive organs with the highest B accumulation, which increased with plant age. In older plants, the largest amount of B exported occurred in bunches. Furthermore, the rates of B immobilization and recycling were higher than the amounts of B exported by oil palm trees. The results of this study have important implications for the nutritional management of B in oil palm crops. Given that B is the most limiting micronutrient in palm oil crop in the Amazon. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of B in oil palm plants, which could help unlock their full potential and promote sustainable crop management. This research highlights the importance of nutrient management to increase crop yield and sustainability.