07/03/2024

Plant nutrient deficiency symptoms

• Plants like any other living things, need

VISUAL OBSERVATION OF food for their growth and development.
• Plants need adequate light, heat and
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY water.
• Each type of plant is unique and has an
LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 6
optimum nutrient range as well as
minimum requirement level.

Plant nutrient deficiency symptoms Essential Elements

There are more than 100 chemical elements
known to man but only 17 are essential: C, H,
O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, Cl,
Mo, Ni
Except C, H, O which come from air and
water, all the other 14 elements come from
the soil. They are called mineral nutrients

Criteria of essentiality of elements Essential Mineral Elements for Plants

1. Must be required for the completion of the Macronutrient : N, K, Ca, Mg, P, S
life cycle of the plant
Micronutrient: Cl, B, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mo
2. Must not be replaceable by another
element Beneficial Na, Si, Co, I, Va
3. Must be directly involved in plant metabolism
or must be required for a specific physiological
function Beneficial elements---->stimulate growth but are not
essential (i.e. they do not pass the four criteria of
4. Must be required by a substantial number of essentiality) or they are only essential for certain plant
species or under specific conditions. Ex: Si beneficial for
plant species; not just by a single plant species rice
or two

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Nutrients Nutrients
Macronutrients: at least 0.1% of plant dry matter per macronutrient Micronutrients: less than 0.1% of plant dry matter
Nitrogen (N): Sulphur (S):
- Amino acid/Protein formation - Part of amino acids (protein formation) Iron (Fe): Copper (Cu): Nickel (Ni):
- Photosynthesis - Synthesis of chlorophyll and some vitamins - Photosyntheiss - Chlorophyll formation - Required for enzyme
- Required for N2-fixation by legumes - Respiration - Seed formation urease
Phosphorus (P): - Protein synthesis
- Energy storage/transfer Magnesium (Mg): Manganese (Mn): Sodium (Na):
- Root growth - Photosynthesis - Photosynthesis Molybdenum (Mo): - Water movement and
- Crop maturity - Activates enzymes - Enzyme function - Protein synthesis and N uptake balance of minerals
- Straw strength - Carbohydrate transport - N2-fixation by legumes
- Disease resistance Boron (B): Silicon (Si)
- Needed in large amounts during plant growth Calcium (Ca): - Development/growth of new Chlorine (Cl): - Cell walls
- Required for N2-fixation by legumes - Cell growth and walls cells - Movement of water and solutes - Protection against piercing
- Activates enzymes (protein formation and - Nutrient uptake by sucking insects
Potassium (K): carbohydrate transfer) Zinc (Zn): - Photosynthesis - Leaf presentation
- Plant turgor pressure maintenance - Essential in ‘calcicole’ plants (e.g. Groundnut) for seed - Nucleic acid synthesis and - Early crop maturity - Heat and drought tolerance
- Accumulation and transport of the products of production. enzyme activation - Disease control
plant metabolism - Influences water movement, cell growth and division
- Disease resistance - Required for uptake of N and other minerals Cobalt (Co):
- Required for N2-fixation by legumes - N2-fixation by legumes

Nutrient deficiency Nutrient deficiencies

Healthy

N-deficient

P-deficient

K-deficient

Diseased

Nitrogen (N) Nitrogen (N)

• Reduced N lowers the • Stunted growth may
protein content of seeds occur because of
and vegetative parts. In reduction in cell division.
severe cases, flowering • Pale green to light
is greatly reduced. yellow color (chlorosis)
• N deficiency causes appearing first on older
early maturity in some leaves, usually starting
crops, which results in a at the tips.
Nitrogen deficient potato significant reduction in Nitrogen deficient corn;
plant (left) is chlorotic; yellowing proceeds down
plant at right
yield and quality. the midrib of older leaves.
is normal.

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Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P)

• It is needed in large
quantities during the
early stages of cell
division, the initial
overall symptom is slow,
weak, and stunted
growth.
• Lack of P can cause
Nitrogen deficient Phosphorus deficient delayed maturity and
cucumber fruit is corn; lower leaves
misshapen and chlorotic
poor seed and fruit
Severe nitrogen deficiency become reddish-purple.
in citrus
development.

Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K)

• P is relatively mobile in • The most common
plants and can be symptom is chlorosis
transferred to sites of along the edges of
new growth, causing leaves (leaf margin
symptoms of dark to scorching).
blue-green coloration to • Because K is needed in
appear on older leaves photosynthesis and the
of some plants. Under synthesis of proteins,
Phosphorus deficient severe deficiency, Potassium deficient corn; plants lacking K will
tomato leaves have purpling of leaves and margins of older leaves have slow and stunted
purple interveinal tissue stems may appear. become chlorotic and necrotic.
on their undersides.
growth.

Potassium (K) Potassium (K)

• In some crops, stems
are weak and lodging is
common if K is deficient.
• The size of seeds and
fruits and the quantity of
their production is
reduced.
Potassium deficient banana;
older leaves become chlorotic,
Potassium deficient tomato Potassium deficient squash
then necrotic, and the tip of
leaves have leaf edges become chlorotic
the midrib bends downward
chlorotic and necrotic spotting and necrotic

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Calcium (Ca) Calcium (Ca)

• Symptoms first appear on • Without adequate Ca,
the younger leaves and which in the form of
leaf tips. The growing tips calcium pectate is needed
of roots and leaves turn to form rigid cell walls,
brown and die.
newly emerging leaves
• In some crops, younger may stick together at the
leaves may be cupped
and crinkled, with the margins, which causes
terminal bud deteriorating. tearing as the leaves
• Buds and blossoms fall expand and unfurl. This
Calcium deficient tomato; Calcium deficient corn may also cause the stem
young leaves become prematurely in some leaves fail to unfold.
twisted and cupped. crops. structure to be weakened.

Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg)

• Interveinal chlorosis first
appears in older leaves.
Leaf tissue between the
veins may be yellowish,
bronze, or reddish, while the
leaf veins remain green.
Corn leaves appear yellow-
striped with green veins,
while crops such as
potatoes, tomatoes,
Calcium deficient celery; Calcium deficient bean Magnesium deficient
young leaves are necrotic corn; interveinal chlorosis
soybeans, and cabbages
leaves have chlorotic and
and the growing point dies. of older leaves. show orange-yellow color
necrotic spots.
with green veins.

Magnesium (Mg) Magnesium (Mg)

• In severe cases, symptoms
may appear on younger
leaves and cause premature
leaf drop.
• Symptoms occur most
frequently in acid soils and
soils receiving high amounts
of K fertilizer or Ca.

Magnesium deficient
tomato; interveinal
chlorosis of older leaves. Magnesium deficient soybean; Magnesium deficient
interveinal chlorosis of older sweetpotato leaves become
leaves reddish-purple.

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Sulfur (S) Sulfur (S)

• Younger leaves are • Plant stems are stiff, thin,
chlorotic with evenly, and woody.
lightly colored veins. In • Symptoms may be similar to
some plants (e.g., citrus) N deficiency and are most
the older leaves may often found in sandy soils
show symptoms first. that are low in organic
However, deficiency is not matter and receive moderate
to heavy rainfall.
commonly found in most
plants.
• Growth rate is retarded
Sulfur deficient corn; young and maturity is delayed. Sulfur deficient tomato;
leaves are uniformly young leaves are uniformly
chlorotic. chlorotic.

Sulfur (S) Boron (B)

• Generally, B deficiency
causes stunted growth,
first showing symptoms
on the growing point
and younger leaves.
The leaves tend to be
thickened and may curl
and become brittle.
Boron deficient potato leaves have
light brown edges; crinkling around
the center of the leaf blade causes
Sulfur deficient banana leaves Sulfur deficient macademia; an upward-cupped shape; the
are uniformly chlorotic young leaves are chlorotic plant’s growing point dies.

Boron (B) Boron (B)

• peanuts: hollow hearts
• celery: crooked and cracked
stem
• beets: black hearts
• papaya: distorted and lumpy
Boron deficient radish fruit
plants are stunted, with
distorted leaves.
• carnation: splitting of calyx
• Chinese cabbage: midribs
crack, turn brown Boron toxicity in bean. Boron toxicity in soybean
• cabbage, broccoli, and Plants are stunted and affecting newly opened
cauliflower: pith in hollow become yellow and leaves.
stem necrotic.

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Boron (B) Copper (Cu)

Boron toxicity in salt-

• In trees, multiple sprouts
stressed eucalyptus occur at growing points,
(Eucalyptus
camaldulensis).
resulting in a bushy
Reddish areas close to appearance. Young
margins are early
symptoms; necrotic leaves becomes
leaf tips and margins bleached, and
are later symptoms of
boron damage. eventually there is
defoliation and dieback
Boron toxicity in green
of twigs.
Copper deficient tomato
onion.
leaves are stunted and
deformed.

Copper (Cu) Copper (Cu)

• Reduced growth,
distortion of the younger
leaves, and possible
necrosis of the apical
meristem.
• In forage grasses,
young leaf tips and
growing points are
affected first. The plant
Copper deficient corn leaf tips
bend and droop. is stunted and chlorotic. Copper deficient onion leaves Copper deficient lettuce leaves
have white tips and twist in are stunted and cupped, with
spirals or right angles. darker tissue near the petiole.

Chlorine (Cl) Iron (Fe)

• Chlorosis of younger
leaves and wilting of the • Interveinal chlorosis in
plant. younger leaves. The
• Deficiency seldom youngest leaves maybe
white, because Fe, like
occurs because Cl is
Mg, is involved in
found in the atmosphere
chlorophyll production.
and rainwater.
• Usually observed in
alkaline or over-limed
Chlorine deficient tomato;
leaf edges roll upward. soils.
Iron deficient corn; young
Chlorine deficient leaves have interveinal
sugarbeet; young leaves are chlorosis.
chlorotic.

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Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn)

• Symptoms first appear
as chlorosis in young
tissues. Unlike Fe
chlorosis symptoms, in
dicots Mn chlorosis
shows up as tiny yellow
spots.
• In legumes, necrotic
Manganese deficient corn;
areas develop on the
Iron deficient soybean;
young leaves are olive-green cotyledons, a symptom
young leaves have and slightly streaked.
interveinal chlorisi Iron deficient macademia; young known as marsh spots.
leaves have interveinal chlorisi

Manganese (Mn) Manganese (Mn)

• In monocots, greenish-
grey specks appear at
the lower base of
younger leaves. The
specks may eventually
become yellowish to
yellow-orange.

Manganese deficient tomato;

Manganese deficient
expanded young leaves have
green veins with interveinal soybean; young leaves Manganese deficient orange;
chlorosis. have interveinal chlorisi leaves develop a motted pattern
of light and dark green.

Molybdenum (Mo) Molybdenum (Mo)

• Deficiency symptoms • In contrast to N
resemble those of N deficiency, necrotic
because the function of spots appear at the leaf
Mo is to assimilate N in margins because of
nitrate accumulation.
the plant. Older and
middle leaves become • Deficient plants are
stunted, and flower
chlorotic, and the leaf formation may be
margins roll inwards. restricted.
• Mo deficiency can be
Molybdenum deficient Molybdenum deficient
tomato leaves have
common in nitrogen-
sugarbeet leaf has slight
interveinal chlorosis. fixing legumes.
veining and pronounced
necrotic spotting.

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Zinc (Zn) Zinc (Zn)

• Interveinal chlorosis
occurs on younger leaves,
similar to Fe deficiency.
However, Zn deficiency is
more defined, appearing
as banding at the basal
part of the leaf, whereas
Fe deficiency results in
interveinal chlorosis along
Zinc deficient corn. Young the entire length of the Zinc deficient mango shoots
Zinc deficient onion leaves
are twisted (right); plants at
leaves have interveinal, leaf. have shortened internodes,
left are normal.
chlorotic stripes on both sides resulting in leaf rosetting.
of the midrib.

Nickel (Ni)
• Symptoms include delayed
and decreased leaf
expansion, poor bud break,
leaf bronzing and chlorosis,
rosetting, and leaf tip
necrosis.

Branches of nickel-sufficient
(left) and nickel-deficient
(right) pecan.