3.7 Warning signs of soil nutrient deficiencies.
From: Jennifer A. Cabbage <fxjac.camelot.acf-lab.alaska.edu>
This is information obtained from Charles Knight (my soils professor).
| Element | Function | Deficiency symptoms in plants |
|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients: | ||
| N - nitrogen | Component of all amino acids, enzymes, proteins, etc. | Uniform yellowing appears first on lower leaves. Growth ceases. |
| P - phosphorous | Essential for ADP, ATP, DNA, RNA. Involved in protein synthesis. | Purple veins. Some plants: unform ashy color. Stunted growth. |
| K - potassium | Regulates water uptake. Component of cell walls. | Tip-burn, brown spots appear first on lower leaves. Weak stems. |
| Ca - calcium | Component of cell walls. Involved in cell division. | Uniform yellowing appears first on young leaves. Growing tips (roots and shoots) die. Plants dwarfed. |
| Mg - magnesium | Component of chlorophyll. Enzyme activator. | Yellowing of the veins. Yellowed areas die. |
| S - sulphur | Component of all proteins. Important in enzyme reactions and photosynthesis. | Uniform yellowing in whole plant. Thin lateral stems (exception: Cruciferae). |
| Micronutrients (only a few GRAMS per acre needed) | ||
| Fe - iron | Component or co-factor of many oxidases. | Yellowing of the veins. Larger veins stay green. |
| Mn - manganese | Essential for photosynthesis, N-metabolism, N-assimilation. | Yellowing of the veins in younger leaves. |
| Zn - zinc | Promotes growth hormones, seed maturation and production | Rosette. Small yellowed leaves. Scalloped leaf edges. |
| Cu - copper | Important in photosynthesis, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. | Pale yellow-bleached leaves. Leaves and stems not firm. Tip and stem dieback. |
| B - boron | Essential for cell division + development. Synthesis of nucleic acids, plant hormones. | Yellowing of younger leaves. Internal browning of cork of stems and fruit. Many flowers abort. |
| Mo - molybdenum | Essential for N-fixation and assimilation. | Uniform yellowing of whole plant. Extreme curling of leaves. |
| Cl - chlorine | Influences photosynthesis and root growth. | Unknown. |
| Co - cobalt | Essential for N-fixation. | Unknown. |
