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Plant Micro and Macro Nutrient Deficiency
Plant Micro and Macro Nutrient Deficiency
Plant Micro and Macro Nutrient Deficiency
MACRO NUTRIENT
DEFICIENCY
Carbon (C)
6 8
Hydrogen (H) + + =
Macroelements Microelements
Oxygen (O)
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".
Deficiency Symptoms of the
Macroelements and Iron
Nitrogen Deficiency
• General chlorosis
(yellowing) of the
leaves.
• Older leaves showing
symptoms first.
• Entire plant becomes
yellow under prolonged
stress.
• Growth is immediately
restricted and plants
soon become spindly
and drop older leaves
N deficiency in potato
Phosphorous Deficiency
• Reduced plant size
• Darkened foliage with a
purplish cast.
• 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. Restriction in
growth may be noticed.
P deficiency in corn
Potassium Deficiency
• Margins eventually turning
brown.
• Symptoms develop on lower
leaves first.
• 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.
K deficiency on red currant
Potassium Deficiency
Calcium Deficiency
• Young leaves are
prominently malformed.
• Poor root development.
• Growing points usually
damaged or dead (die
back).
• Margins of leaves
developing from the
growing point are first to
turn brown.
Ca deficiency on sugar
beet
Magnesium Deficiency
• Interveinal chlorosis.
• Starts on the older leaves and
progresses towards the top of
the plant.
• 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 Mg deficiency on grape
necrotic, brittle, and curl
upward.
• Symptoms usually occur late in
the growing season.
Magnesium (Mg) Deficiency on Poinsettia
• Interveinal chlorosis
developing on the youngest
leaves first.
• Damage confined to the
upper regions of the plant.
• Distinct yellow or white
areas appear between
veins, and veins eventually
become chlorotic.
• Symptoms are rare on
mature leaves. Fe deficiency on cherry
Iron (Fe) Deficiency Symptoms
1 2
3 4
A B
http://agri.atu.edu/people/Hodgson/FieldCrop
s/Mirror/Nutrient%20Def_files/slide24.jpg
http://plantsci.sdstate.edu/woodardh/soilfert/Nut
rient_Deficiency_Pages/corn_def/CORN-
ZN1.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/ffc12.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