Symptoms
Symptoms start on younger leaves, which fail to expand properly. Ca deficiency creates "spike leaf" appearance with the lamina of young leaves being deformed or absent. Thickening of secondary veins, accompanied by marginal chlorosis.
Extreme deficiency may cause leaf drop and die-off.
Roots can be shortened, thickened, and necrotic.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Danger of confusion: Boron and calcium deficiency both lead to necrosis on the upper leaves. The colour of the necrosis is a lighter brown with Ca undersupply, and the necrosis then starts from the leaf tip, not from the leaf margin. Both nutrient deficiencies cause thickening of secondary veins, but it is more pronounced when Ca is lacking.
Symptoms of B and Ca deficiency can easily be confused with virus diseases or herbicide damage as well.
Leaf analysis is therefore recommended.
Banana - Deformation
Symptoms
Symptoms of Ca deficiency start on younger leaves, but growth is not restricted. The leaves become chlorotic and later light brown necrosis appears, starting from leaf tip. Ca deficiency creates "spike leaf" appearance with the lamina of young leaves being deformed or absent.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Danger of confusion: Boron and calcium deficiency both lead to necrosis on the upper leaves. The colour of the necrosis is a lighter brown with Ca undersupply, and the necrosis then starts from the leaf tip, not from the leaf margin. Both nutrient deficiencies cause thickening of secondary veins, but it is more pronounced when Ca is lacking.
Symptoms of B and Ca deficiency can easily be confused with virus diseases or herbicide damage as well.
Leaf analysis is therefore recommended.
Banana - Rot
Symptoms
Fruit damage, caused by splitted peel and rotten fruit flesh. Fruits can also curl, damaging or scratching others in the bunch.
Weight and diameter are reduced, fruit quality is low.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Banana fruits suffer from Ca deficiency because of their low transpiration rate.
Banana - Cracking
Symptoms
With Ca deficiency, peels split when fruit ripens. Fruits can also curl, damaging or scratching others in the bunch.
Weight and diameter are reduced, fruit quality is low.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Banana fruits suffer from Ca deficiency because of their low transpiration rate.
Banana - Deformation
Symptoms
Symptoms start on younger leaves, which fail to expand properly. Ca deficiency creates "spike leaf" appearance with the lamina of young leaves being deformed or absent. Thickening of secondary veins, accompanied by marginal chlorosis.
Extreme deficiency may cause leaf drop and die-off.
Roots can be shortened, thickened, and necrotic.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Danger of confusion: Boron and calcium deficiency both lead to necrosis on the upper leaves. The colour of the necrosis is a lighter brown with Ca undersupply, and the necrosis then starts from the leaf tip, not from the leaf margin. Both nutrient deficiencies cause thickening of secondary veins, but it is more pronounced when Ca is lacking.
Symptoms of B and Ca deficiency can easily be confused with virus diseases or herbicide damage as well.
Leaf analysis is therefore recommended.
Banana - Deformation
Symptoms
Symptoms start on younger leaves, which fail to expand properly. Ca deficiency creates "spike leaf" appearance with the lamina of young leaves being deformed or absent. Thickening of secondary veins, accompanied by marginal chlorosis.
Extreme deficiency may cause leaf drop and die-off.
Roots can be shortened, thickened, and necrotic.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Danger of confusion: Boron and calcium deficiency both lead to necrosis on the upper leaves. The colour of the necrosis is a lighter brown with Ca undersupply, and the necrosis then starts from the leaf tip, not from the leaf margin. Both nutrient deficiencies cause thickening of secondary veins, but it is more pronounced when Ca is lacking.
Symptoms of B and Ca deficiency can easily be confused with virus diseases or herbicide damage as well.
Leaf analysis is therefore recommended.
Banana - Deformation
Symptoms
Symptoms start on younger leaves, which fail to expand properly. Ca deficiency creates "spike leaf" appearance with the lamina of young leaves being deformed or absent. Thickening of secondary veins, accompanied by marginal chlorosis.
Extreme deficiency may cause leaf drop and die-off.
Roots can be shortened, thickened, and necrotic.
Reasons
Calcium deficiency.
Danger of confusion: Boron and calcium deficiency both lead to necrosis on the upper leaves. The colour of the necrosis is a lighter brown with Ca undersupply, and the necrosis then starts from the leaf tip, not from the leaf margin. Both nutrient deficiencies cause thickening of secondary veins, but it is more pronounced when Ca is lacking.
Symptoms of B and Ca deficiency can easily be confused with virus diseases or herbicide damage as well.
Leaf analysis is therefore recommended.
Banana - Rot
Symptoms
With Ca deficiency, peels split when fruit ripens. Fruits can also curl, damaging or scratching others in the bunch.
Weight and diameter are reduced, fruit quality is low.
The so-called 'cigar end rot' is a fungal disease associatied with Verticillium theobromae & Trachysphaera fructigena. It is likely caused by Ca deficiency during fruit formation (weak tissues allowing entrance of fungus).
Reasons
Calcium deficiency and Cigar End Rot.
Banana fruits suffer from Ca deficiency because of their low transpiration rate.
Calcium deficiency made worse by
Acidic soils
Sandy or light soils (leaching)
Acid peat soils
Soils rich in sodium
Soils rich in aluminium
Drought conditions
Fruit high in nitrogen or potassium
Large fruit
Calcium is important for
Growth of roots and leaves, resulting in higher yields