Symptoms of nutrient deficiency in plants By Dr
Symptoms of nutrient deficiency in plants By Dr P B Murthy Consultant: Agriculture technology
Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms • Nutrient deficiency symptoms usually appear on the plant when one or more nutrients are in short supply. • In many cases, deficiency may occur because an added nutrient is not in the form the plant can use. • Deficiency symptoms for specific elements are included on the "Key to Nutrient Disorders".
Nutrient Deficiencies • Every soil is not susceptible to the same nutrient deficiencies. • For example, coarse textured soils low in organic matter are susceptible to sulfur deficiencies whereas sulfur is usually in adequate supply in clayey soils or soils high in organic matter.
Macronutrient Deficiencies & Soils Element Soil Factor Causing Deficiency N&K Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils P Acid low organic matter soils Cold wet soils such as occurs during early spring Newly cleared soils S Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils in areas where air pollution is low (minimal levels of SO 2 in the air) Ca & Mg Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils Soils where large amounts of K have been applied
Micronutrient Deficiencies & Soils Element Soil Factor Causing Deficiency Fe Poorly drained soils, Low organic matter soils, p. H>7. 0, Soils high in P Zn Cold wet soils low in organic matter and highly leached, High p. H soils (p. H>7. 0), Soils high in P, Exposed subsoils Cu Peat and muck soils, High p. H, sandy soils, Soils heavily fertilized with N B Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils, Soils with p. H>7. 0 Mn Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils, Soil with p. H>6. 5 Mo Soils high in Fe oxides, high adsorption of molybdenum, Soil cropped for a long time
Deficiency Symptoms N • General chlorosis. • Chlorosis progresses from light green to yellow. • Entire plant becomes yellow under prolonged stress. • Growth is immediately restricted and plants soon become spindly and drop older leaves. http: //plantsci. sdstate. edu/woodardh/soilfert/Nutrient_Defi ciency_Pages/soy_def/SOY-N 1. JPG
Deficiency Symptoms P • Leaves appear dull, dark green, blue green, or red purple, especially on the underside, and especially at the midrib and vein. • Petioles may also exhibit purpling. Re striction in growth may be noticed. http: //www-unix. oit. umass. edu/~psoil 120/images/tomatox 2. jpg http: //www. ext. vt. edu/news/periodicals/vit iculture/04 octobernovember/photo 3. jpg
Deficiency Symptoms K • Leaf margins tanned, scorched, or have necrotic spots (may be small black spots which later coalesce). • Margins become brown and cup downward. • Growth is restricted and die back may occur. • Mild symptoms appear first on recently matured leaves. http: //www. ipm. iastate. edu/ipm/icm/files/images/antonio 004 f. jpg
Deficiency Symptoms Ca • Growing points usually damaged or dead (die back). • Margins of leaves developing from the growing point are first to turn brown. http: //hubcap. clemson. edu/~blpprt/acid_photos/Blossom End. Rot. JPG
Deficiency Symptoms Mg • Marginal chlorosis or chlorotic blotches which later merge. • Leaves show yellow chlorotic interveinal tissue on some species, reddish purple progressing to necrosis on others. • Younger leaves affected with continued stress. • Chlorotic areas may become necrotic, brittle, and curl upward. • Symptoms usually occur late in the growing season. http: //quorumsensing. ifas. ufl. edu/HCS 200/images/deficien cies/-Mgcq. jpg
Deficiency Symptoms S • Leaves uniformly light green, followed by yellowing and poor spindly growth. • Uniform chlorosis does not occur http: //www. ces. ncsu. edu/plymouth/cropsci/gra phics/sulfur 2. jpg http: //www. ag. ndsu. nodak. edu/aginfo/entomol ogy/ndsucpr/Years/2007/june/7/soils. jpg
Deficiency Symptoms Cu • Leaves wilt, become chlorotic, then necrotic. • Wilting and necrosis are not dominant symptoms. http: //images. google. com/url? q=http: //ipm. ncsu. edu/Scouti ng_Small_Grains/Grain_images/fig 4. jpg&usg=AFQj. CNE 2 vz. Rwrqp 65 VR_x. KRlo 2 LQOg. WI 3 g
Deficiency Symptoms Fe • Distinct yellow or white areas appear between veins, and veins eventually become chlorotic. • Symptoms are rare on mature leaves. http: //bexartx. tamu. edu/Home. Hort/F 1 Column/2003 Article s/Graphics/iron%20 chlorosis. jpg
Deficiency Symptoms Mn • Chlorosis is less marked near veins. • Some mottling occurs in interveinal areas. • Chlorotic areas eventually become brown, transparent, or necrotic. • Symptoms may appear later on older leaves. http: //www. ca. uky. edu/HLA/Dunwell/KHC/110 -122. JPG
Deficiency Symptoms Zn • Leaves may be abnormally small and necrotic. • Internodes are shortened. http: //agri. atu. edu/people/Hodgson/Field. Crop s/Mirror/Nutrient%20 Def_files/slide 24. jpg http: //plantsci. sdstate. edu/woodardh/soilfert/Nut rient_Deficiency_Pages/corn_def/CORNZN 1. JPG
Deficiency Symptoms B • Young, expanding leaves may be necrotic or distorted followed by death of growing points. • Internodes may be short, especially at shoot terminals. • Stems may be rough, cracked, or split along the vascular bundles. http: //www. canr. msu. edu/vanburen/ffc 12. jpg
Crops Highly Susceptible to Deficiencies Element Crops Mn Soybean, Small Grain & Peanuts Cu Wheat & Corn Zn Corn Mo Soybeans & Cauliflower B Alfalfa, Apples, Peanuts, Tobacco & Tomatoes Fe Ornamentals, Fruit Trees, Soybeans, Grain Sorghum & Some Grasses
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