Balagot, Rou Jay S.

IV-B Diligence Technology and Livelihood Education Assignment November 09, 2011 (A) Soil Nutrient Deficiencies
Nitrogen Deficiency

Clear yellow leaves = nitrogen deficiency Veins are green = iron deficiency Nitrogen contributes primarily to green growth and is used most heavily when your plants are growing rapidly. The leaves of a nitrogen deficient rose show an over-all yellow or light green color. The older leaves are more affected than the newer growth because nitrogen is mobile within the plant and will move from the older foliage to newer leaves when in short supply. This older foliage may turn clear yellow and ultimately fall off. Slower growth, stunted plants and reduced stem length and diameter are also symptomatic of nitrogen deficiency. Flowers of the darker colored cultivars may appear several shades lighter than normal and the buds of any variety may fail to open.

Iron Deficiency

Veins are green = iron deficiency Clear yellow leaves = nitrogen deficiency Iron deficiency results in interveinal chlorosis of the younger foliage (yellow foliage, green veins). If the condition worsens the newly formed leaves may remain small and can become completely pale yellow to white. Iron deficiencies can be induced by high levels of manganese, zinc, or phosphorus. Iron deficiency symptoms with adequate iron present can also be caused by excessive salts, high pH, over watering, poor drainage and temperature extremes. In order to be identify and correct iron deficiency symptoms, these other environmental and cultural problems must be addressed. Manganese deficiency can cause pale mottled leaves and interveinal chlorosis of young foliage.

Phosphorus Deficiency
Phosphorus is essential for good root growth and flower production. The first symptom of phosphorus deficiency is an overall stunting of the leaves and shoot growth. Later, the older leaves may lose their luster, becoming dull green, and drop off. Root development is reduced, which results in poor flower production and slow-to-open buds on weak stems. A slight purpling of the underside of the midrib can develop on some cultivars.

Potassium Deficiency
Potassium encourages root growth and vigor increasing your plants resistance to disease. Deficiency results in slow growth, shorter than normal weak flower stems and small short deformed flower buds. Tip and marginal leaf burn beginning with the older leaves. Potassium deficiency may contribute to the production of "blind shoots" (new stems with no flower).

Calcium Deficiency
Calcium deficiency causes abnormal root growth causing the tips to shorten, get brittle and eventually die. Young leaves are distorted, older foliage become dull green and may curl down at the margins. Calcium deficiency can also contribute to weak stems and in the cut flower industry is associated with a condition known as black tip on some red rose varieties. There is a relationship between calcium and boron for normal growth. If calcium levels are high the relative boron levels must also be high for boron deficiency symptoms not to occur.

Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium is essential for photosynthesis. Deficiency can cause stunting and yellowing between the veins on the foliage (AKA interveinal chlorosis). These symptoms show up on the older foliage first because magnesium, like nitrogen is mobile within the plant. This yellowing can eventually cause purplish or brown dead spots that can eventually cover the entire leaf.

Sulfur Deficiency
Sulfur deficiency causes young leaves to develop light green to yellowish in color. Plants may be spindly and smaller than normal.

Boron Deficiency
Boron deficiency can cause small, thickened, curled, scorched leaves and death to the terminal bud. Death of the terminal bud causes lateral buds to develop contributing to witches broom effect. Boron deficiency can cause "bullheads" (flowers with shortened petals, that are abnormally thick and have the margins roll in).

Chlorine Deficiency
Chlorine deficiency can cause malformed wilted foliage, followed by chlorosis. It's believed that an adequate supply of chlorine increases disease resistance.

Copper Deficiency
Copper deficiency symptoms include distorted young leaves with yellow tips. Ultimately the growing point dies, and short, stunted, lateral shoots develop.

Molybdenum Deficiency
Molybdenum deficiency can cause stunting and lack of vigor. It can also cause malformed leaves with marginal scorching and cupping. Molybdenum is used in very small amounts and can be toxic if over applied. Molybdenum deficiencies can be corrected with only a few ounces applied per acre.

Zinc Deficiency
Zinc deficiency symptoms are similar to those caused by copper deficiency. However, zinc deficiency can also the lateral shoots that develop after the terminal bud dies to stunt causing "little leaf" symptoms.

(B) Soil Toxicity Symptoms

Action Mode, Deficiency and Toxicity Symptoms of the 17 Essential Nutrients. MACRO NUTRIENTS Nutrient Action Mode Nitrogen (N) Absorbed as NO3-, NH4+; responsible for rapid foliage growth and green color; easily leaches from soil, especially NO3-; mobile in plant, moving to new growth

Deficiency Reduced growth, light green to yellow foliage (chlorosis); reds and purples may intensify with some plants; reduced lateral breaks; symptoms appear first on older growth

Excess Succulent growth, leaves are dark green, thick and brittle; poor fruit set; excess ammonia can induce calcium deficiency

Comments The best NH4+/NO3- ratio is 1/1; high NH4+ under low light can cause leaf curl; uptake inhibited by high P levels; indoors, best N/K ratio is 1/1 unless light is extremely high; in soils with high C/N ratio more N should be supplied. Rapidly "fixed" on soil particles; when applied under acid conditions, fixed with Fe, Mn and Al; under alkaline

Phosphorus Promotes root (P) formation and growth; affects quality of seed, fruit and flower production;

Reduced growth; leaves dark green; purple or red color in older leaves, especially on the underside of the leaf

Shows up as micronutrient deficiency of Zn, Fe, or Co

increased disease resistance; does not leach from soil readily; mobile in plant, moving to new growth

along the veins; leaf shape may be distorted; thin stems; limited root growth

conditions fixed with Ca; high P interferes with micronutrient and N absorption; used in relatively small amounts when compared to N and K; availability is lowest in cold soils. Causes N deficiency in plant and may affect the uptake of other positive ions such as Mg and Ca High N/low K favors vegetative growth; low N/high K promotes reproductive growth (flower, fruit); calcium excess impedes uptake of potassium

Potassium (K)

Helps plants overcome drought stress; improves winter hardiness; increased disease resistance; improves the rigidity of stalks; leaches from soil; mobile in plant

Reduced growth; shortened internodes; margins of older leaves become chlorotic and burn; necrotic (dead) spots on older leaves; reduction of lateral breaks and tendency to wilt readily; poorly developed root systems; weak stalks Reduction in growth; yellowish, bronze, or reddish color of older leaves, while veins remains green; leaf margins may curl downward or upward with a puckering effect

Magnesium Absorbed as (Mg) Mg++; leaches from sandy soil; mobile in plant

Interferes with Ca uptake; small necrotic spots in older leaves; smaller veins in older leaves may turn brown; in advanced stage, young leaves may be spotted

Mg is commonly deficient in foliage plants because it is leached and not replaced; epsom salts at a rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon may be used two times a year; Mg can be absorbed by leaves if sprayed in a weak solution; dolomitic limestone can be applied in outdoor situations to rectify a deficiency Ca is rarely deficient if the correct pH is maintained; too much or too little

Calcium (Ca)

Absorbed as Ca++; moderately leachable; limited mobility

Inhibition of bud growth; roots can turn black and rot; young leaves are scalloped and

Interferes with Mg absorption; high Ca usually causes high pH which then

in plant; essential for growth of shoot and root tips; reduces the toxicity of aluminum and manganese

abnormally green; leaf tips may stick together; cupping of maturing leaves; blossom end rot of many fruits, pits on root vegetables; stem structure is weak; premature shedding of fruit and buds Rarely deficient; general yellowing of the young leaves then the entire plant; veins lighter in color than adjoining interveinal area; roots and stems are small, hard and woody

precipitates many of the micronutrient so they become unavailable to the plant

water, can affect Ca relationships within the plant causing deficiency in the location where Ca was needed at the time of stress

Sulfur (S)

Absorbed as SO4-; leachable; not mobile; contributes to odor and taste of some vegetables

Sulfur excess is usually in the form of air pollution

Sulfur excess is difficult to control but rarely a problem.

MICRONUTRIENT Nutrient Mode of Action Iron (Fe) Absorbed as Fe++, Fe+++; accumulates in the oldest leaves and is relative immobile in the phloem; necessary for the maintenance of chlorophyll

Deficiency Excess /Comments Interveinal chlorosis primarily Rare except on flooded on young tissue, which may soils become white; Fe deficiency may occur even if Fe is in the soil when: soil high in Ca, poorly drained soil, soil high in Mn, high pH, high P, soil high in heavy metals (Cu, Zn), oxygen deficient soils or when nematodes attack the roots; Fe should be added in the chelate form; the type of chelate needed depends upon the soil pH; foliar fertilization will temporarily correct the deficiency; may be deficient in centipedegrass where pH and P are high Failure to set seed; internal breakdown of fruit or Tips and edges of leaves exhibit necrotic spots

Boron (B)

Absorbed as B(OH)3-;

important in enabling photosynthetic transfer; very immoble in plants

vegetable; death of apical buds, giving rise to witches broom; failure of root tip to elongate normally; young leaves become thick, leathery, and chlorotic; rust colored cracks and corking on young stems, petioles and flower stalks (e.g. heart rot of beets, stem crack of celery); breakdown occurs at the base of the youngest shoots Young leaves are very small, sometimes missing leaf blades; short internodes; distorted or puckered leaf margins; interveinal chlorosis

coalescing into a marginal scorch (similiar to high soluable salts); oldest leaves are affected first; plants are easily damaged by excess application

Zinc (Zn)

Absorbed as Zn++; enzyme activity

Sever stunting, reddening; poor germination; older leaves wilt; entire leaf is affected by chlorosis, edges and main vein often retain more color; can be caused by galvanized metal.

Copper (Cu) Absorbed as Cu++, Cu+; enzyme activity

New growth small, misshapen, Can occur at low pH; wilted; may be found in some shows up as Fe peat soils; in some species deficiency young leaves may show interveinal chlorosis while tips of older leaves remain green. Interveinal chlorosis with smallest leaves remaining green producing a checkered effect; grey or tan spots usually develop in chlorotic areas; dead spots may drop out of the leaf; poor bloom size and color; induced by excessively high pH. Reduction in growth, brown spotting on leaves; shows up as Fe deficiency; found under strongly acid conditions

Manganese (Mn)

Absorbed as Mn++

Molybdenum Absorbed as (Mo) MoO4-

Interveinal chlorosis on older or Intense yellow or purple midstem leaves; twisted leaves color in leaves; rarely (whiptail); marginal scorching observed and rolling or cupping of leaves; nitrogen deficiency symptoms may develop Wilted leaves which become bronze then chlorotic then die; club roots Salt injury, leaf burn, may increase succulence

Chlorine (Cl) Absorbed as Cl -

Cobalt (Co)

Absorbed as Co++ Absorbed as Ni+

This need by plants recently established; essential for Nitrogen fixation This need by plants recently established; essential for seed development

Little is known about its deficiency or toxicity symptoms

Nickel (Ni)

(C) Soil Horizon (Picture)