Macronutrients and boron deficiency visual symptoms characterization in ornamental ginger

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the typical symptoms of macronutrients and boron deficiency in ornamental ginger plants grown in a nutritional solution based on Hoagland e Arnon’s nutritional solution. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse conditions at DCS / UFLA, Lavras-MG. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with tree replications and eight treatments corresponding to the complete solution (control) and individual omissions of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and B. N deficient plants showed yellowing of older leaves, progressing to the whole plant and small size. The omission of K and Ca caused plant growth reduction (root and shoot) when compared with the control treatment. The plants under omission of Mg initially showed interveinal paling at the apex of older leaves and with the advance of symptoms, chlorotic areas tranformed in marginal necrosis. The plants deficient in S did not show visual symptoms. B deficient plants showed smaller younger leaves, wrinkled, malformed and some plants had almost no leaves. The omissions of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and B in nutritional solution result in morphological changes, which reflect in characteristic symptoms of deficiency for each nutrient. The manifestation of deficiency symptoms first occurs in treatments with the omission of N and Mg. N, Ca and K are the nutrients that most affect shoot plant. The omission of macronutrients and boron affect the biometric indices and dry matter production of Zingiber spectabile.