Understanding the effects of plant nutrient deficiency is crucial for maintaining healthy crops. Plants, like humans, need a certain mix of essential nutrients to grow healthy and strong.
Trace elements like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, and magnesium are considered macronutrients.
These are needed in large amounts so that plants can perform various tasks including:
- creating essential biological molecules
- seed germination
- forming healthy plant roots
- flowering
- fruiting
Plants also need micronutrients such as boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc in very small amounts.
These also play a critical role in the chemical reactions in plants that allow them to grow their best.
Normally, plants take up these essential plant nutrients through their roots. They soak up these crucial compounds and deliver them to the various parts of the plants to be used.
But, there are times when plants aren’t able to take up nutrition sufficiently from the soil they’re grown in. This is when we see a nutrient deficiency. Journaling is a good way to notice these types of things, too.
If your plants are looking blah even though they’re getting plenty of water and sunlight then you might want to start looking for signs of a nutrient deficiency.
Nutrient Deficiency at a Glance
Nutrient deficiency happens when garden soils and potting composts lack what the plant needs.
It can also happen if the soil is too acidic, too alkaline, or even waterlogged which makes it difficult for plants to take up soil nutrients and can actually lead to them drowning.
What Does Nutrient Deficiency in Plants Look Like?
Much like malnutrition or nutritional disorders in humans, plants also show signs and symptoms of nutrient deficiency.
There are definite patterns that will clue you in on what’s happening like:
- stunted growth
- slow growth
- poor flowering
- poor fruiting
Macronutrient Deficiency
Macronutrients need to be replaced once every growing season. Here are some of the common symptoms you need to look out for:
Calcium
Calcium helps control how the nutrients are transported in your plants. Calcium pectate, which can be found in the middle of the lamella, is what glues the plant cell walls together.
One of the signs of a calcium deficiency is the new growth of the plant appears distorted or oddly shaped, and can have curled and browning leaves.
Calcium deficiency also causes blossom-end rot. To remedy the situation you need to supplement the soil with calcium and gypsum.
Just remember that balance is key because too much calcium can interfere with the other nutrients in the soil.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen helps the plant green up and gives it a lot of leafy plant growth and helps to form stems.
It also helps make proteins and amino acids (which includes enzymes) as well as other important biological molecules.
You will know your plant is suffering from a nitrogen deficiency when you see a general yellowing of older or the oldest leaves (at the bottom or base of the plant). But, the rest of the plant is light green.
To fix it you can use a fertilizer that has ammonium, nitrate, or urea listed in the ingredients or fertilizer labels. You can also improve the soil by adding manure.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another common nutrient deficiency in plants that often happens because it leaches away from the soil. Having a calcium deficiency will also cause the magnesium to be leeched out of the soil.
You’ll see older leaves begin turning yellow at their edges and you may see the shape of what looks like a green arrowhead in the middle of the leaf.
You can supplement the soil with fertilizer that contains magnesium. Epsom Salt also works well for a magnesium deficiency.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is very important for seed germination and for healthy root development. Phosphorus provides the immediate source of energy in all the plant’s cells.
This is especially important for young plants as they are developing their root system
The pH of the soil affects the uptake of phosphorus and doesn’t leech in water. When there isn’t enough phosphorus or there is a phosphorus deficiency in the soil, the leaf tips look like they’re burnt, and you’ll see older leaves turning a dark green or reddish-purple.
Amend the soil with fertilizer that contains bone meal and phosphate. You can also use green sand.
Potassium
When you think about common nutrient deficiencies in plants Potassium is one that often comes to mind. Potassium deals with your plants ability to flower, fruit, and help with their general hardiness and disease resistance.
Your plants also need it to control their water uptake in the root system as well as it water loss from plants through the stomata in the leaves.
It’s also needed for photosynthesis and general respiration. Having enough potassium in the soil is absolutely important for the plant to be able to use nitrogen efficiently.
With a potassium deficiency older leaves may wilt, and look scorched. What is known as “interveinal chlorosis” also will begin at the base scorching inward from leaf edges.
Potassium deficiency is rare but if you do happen to see that your plants have it, you can fix it with a fertilizer that contains potassium or potash.
Sulfur
Sulfur atoms are needed to make some amino acids and vitamins. In a sulfur deficiency you’ll see younger leaves turn yellow first, sometimes followed by the older leaves.
Use a fertilizer that contains sulfate. But, keep in mind that the sulfur may actually acidify the soil. Remember it’s all a balance. A great way to check is by soil testing.
Micronutrient Deficiency
Micronutrients need to be replenished whenever you notice these plant symptoms:
Boron
Boron is needed for healthy plant cells forming. It’s important for flowering.
Boron nutrient deficiency symptoms include the terminal buds dying and witches’ brooms forming. Amend the soil with fertilizer that contains borate or borax.
Copper
Copper is important for photosynthesis as well as many of the enzyme processes.
With an insufficient or short supply of copper, leaves will look dark green but the plants will be stunted in growth.
This is rare in certain areas. If you notice deficiency symptoms, apply a fertilizer that contains cuprous, copper, or cupric.
Iron
Iron affects photosynthesis and some enzyme processes.
You’ll see an iron deficiency as yellowing of leaves that happens between the veins of the younger leaves. When you see it, look for a fertilizer that contains iron chelate.
Manganese
Manganese activates important enzymes that work in chlorophyll forming and is necessary to build chloroplasts. It is also a cofactor for enzymes in the plant’s respiration.
Much like an iron deficiency, a manganese deficiency yellowing happens between the leaf veins of young leaves.
But, this pattern is not as obvious as it is with iron deficiency. Use a fertilizer with manganese or manganous. It’s also a good time to add zinc.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is needed for some of the plant’s enzyme processes that lead to the synthesis of amino acids using nitrates.
You’ll start to see a yellowing of the older leaves (found on the bottom of plant). The rest of the plant is often light green.
In legumes, molybdenum deficiency can appear like it’s actually a nitrogen deficiency. Use a fertilizer with molybdic or molybdate to fix it.
Zinc
Zinc activates many enzymes in your plants. It also has plays a key role in your plant’s genetic code.
Zinc nutrient problems or deficiency in plants looks like a yellowing between the veins of the new leaves and leaves may be rosetted.
For this deficiency you need to apply a fertilizer that contains zinc.
Learning about the plant nutrient deprivation impact can help us make informed decisions about how and when we need to use fertilizers
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