Nutrient Deficiency in
Plants
Important Definitions
Mineral: An inorganic element
Acquired mostly in the form of inorganic ions from the
soil
Nutrient: A substance needed to survive or necessary for the
synthesis of organic compounds
Essential Elements
The 16 elements required by plants are obtained
from the soil, water and air.
Thirteen of these elements must be supplied by the
soil.
Six of the soil elements required by plants are
needed in relatively large amounts and are usually
added to the soil through fertilizer or lime. These
are called macronutrients.
The remaining 7 elements supplied by soil are
required in very small amounts and are termed
micronutrients.
Macronutrients
Macronutrients
are needed in
relatively large
amounts by
plants.
Element
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Symbol
O
H
C
N
P
S
K
Ca
Mg
Source
Air/Water
Air/Water
Air/Water
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
Micronutrients
Micronutrients are
needed in
relatively small
amounts by plants.
They are usually
supplied by
fertilizers.
Element
Iron
Manganese
Boron
Molybdenum
Copper
Zinc
Chlorine
Symbol
Fe
Mn
B
Mo
Cu
Zn
Cl
Source
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
Soil
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
Acid low organic matter soils
Cold wet soils such as occurs during early spring
Newly cleared soils
Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils
in areas where air pollution is low (minimal levels of SO2 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, pH>7.0, Soils
high in P
Zn
Cold wet soils low in organic matter and highly leached, High
pH soils (pH>7.0), Soils high in P, Exposed subsoils
Cu
Peat and muck soils, High pH, sandy soils, Soils heavily
fertilized with N
Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils,
Soils with pH>7.0
Mn
Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils,
Soil with pH>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.
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.
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.
Deficiency Symptoms - Ca
Growing points usually
damaged or dead (die
back).
Margins of leaves
developing from the
growing point are first
to turn brown.
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.
Deficiency Symptoms - S
Leaves uniformly light green, followed by
yellowing and poor spindly growth.
Uniform chlorosis does not occur
Deficiency Symptoms - Cu
Leaves wilt, become
chlorotic, then necrotic.
Wilting and necrosis
are not dominant
symptoms.
Deficiency Symptoms - Fe
Distinct yellow or white
areas appear between
veins, and veins
eventually become
chlorotic.
Symptoms are rare on
mature leaves.
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.
Deficiency Symptoms - Zn
Leaves may be abnormally small and necrotic.
Internodes are shortened.
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.
Crops Highly Susceptible to
Deficiencies
Element
Crops
Mn
Soybean, Small Grain & Peanuts
Cu
Wheat & Corn
Zn
Corn
Mo
Soybeans & Cauliflower
Alfalfa, Apples, Peanuts, Tobacco & Tomatoes
Fe
Ornamentals, Fruit Trees, Soybeans, Grain
Sorghum & Some Grasses
