A foliar nutrition study of East Malaysian plantings of Pinus caribaea mor. var hondurensis barr. and golf

Foliar analysis was used to diagnose nutrient deficiencies in East Malaysian plantings of Pinus caribaea Mor. var. hondurensis Barr. and Golf. Foliage from five sites (two in Sarawak and three in Sabah) was analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Mn, Fe and B. Deficiencies of P, Ca and possibly B were recorded from Sabah. Extreme P deficiencies were found on both Sarawak sites. In Sarawak, low levels of N, B and Zn were also noted but, due to the severity of the P deficiencies, their significance could not be evaluated. Fertilization recommendations were made for nutrient deficient sites. And, from an examination of the relationship between tree growth and foliar P concentration, a critical foliar P level of 0.08% to 0.09% was proposed for East Malaysian plantings of Caribbean pine.Forestry, Faculty ofGraduat