1. Nutrient Deficiency in Plants

2. Objectives
 Know the definition of element, compound,
macronutrient and micronutrient.
 Know the 16 essential nutrient elements.
 Learn how to use the "Key to Nutrient
Disorders ".

3. Important Definitions
 An element is a pure chemical that contains only one type of atom.
 A compound is a molecule that contains one or more elements.
 “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

4. 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.

5. Macronutrients
Element Symbol Source
 Macronutrients
are needed in Oxygen O Air/Water
relatively large Hydrogen H Air/Water
amounts by Carbon C Air/Water
plants. Nitrogen N Soil
Phosphorus P Soil
Sulfur S Soil
Potassium K Soil
Calcium Ca Soil
Magnesium Mg Soil

6. Macronutrients – Form Used By Plants
Nutrient Form Used
Carbon CO2
Charge on the
Oxygen H2O molecule
Hydrogen H2O
Nitrogen NO3-, NH4+
Phosphorus H2PO4 & HPO42-
Potassium K+
Calcium Ca2+
Magnesium Mg2+
Sulfur SO4-

7. Micronutrients
 Macronutrients are Element Symbol Source
needed in Iron Fe Soil
relatively small Manganese Mn Soil
amounts by plants.
Boron B Soil
 They are usually
Molybdenum Mo Soil
supplied by
fertilizers. Copper Cu Soil
Zinc Zn Soil
Chlorine Cl Soil

8. Micronutrients – Form Used By
Plants
Nutrient Form Used
Charge on the
Iron Fe2+ molecule
Manganese Mn2+
Boron H2B03-
Molybdenum MoO42-
Copper Cu2+
Zinc Zn2+
Chlorine Cl-

9. 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".

10. 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.

11. Macronutrient Deficiencies & Soils
Element Soil Factor Causing Deficiency
N&K Excessive leaching on coarse-textured low organic matter soils
P Acid low organic matter soils
Cold wet soils such as occurs during early spring
Newly cleared soils
S 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

12. 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
B 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Deficiency Symptoms - Ca
 Growing points usually
damaged or dead (die
back).
 Margins of leaves
developing from the
growing point are first
to turn brown.

17. 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.

18. Deficiency Symptoms - S
 Leaves uniformly light green, followed by
yellowing and poor spindly growth.
 Uniform chlorosis does not occur

19. Deficiency Symptoms - Cu
 Leaves wilt, become
chlorotic, then necrotic.
 Wilting and necrosis
are not dominant
symptoms.

20. Deficiency Symptoms - Fe
 Distinct yellow or white
areas appear between
veins, and veins
eventually become
chlorotic.
 Symptoms are rare on
mature leaves.

21. 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.

22. Deficiency Symptoms - Zn
 Leaves may be abnormally small and necrotic.
 Internodes are shortened.

23. 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.

24. 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

25. Questions?