Nutrient Deficiencies The definitive guide

Macro nutrients Water (also a source of hydrogen ions) Carbon - air Oxygen - air Nitrogen - air Phosphorus - soil Potassium - soil Calcium - soil Magnesium - soil Sulphur – soil and air

Nutrient removal Wheat and barley grain, Queensland 1988 (tonnes) Total Fertilizers added Nitrogen 53340 10500 63840 11289 Phosphorus 5511 1085 6596 2062 Potassium 6597 1400 7979 69

Nitrogen deficiency Light green to yellow appearance esp in older leaves Stunted growth Poor fruit development

Phosphorus deficiency Purple colouration Stunted plant growth and delayed development P deficiency in brassicas and lupins (Source WA Dept of Agriculture)

Potassium deficiency Older leaves turn yellow initially around the margins Potassium deficient brassicas and lucerne. (Top photo WA Dept of Agriculture)

Calcium deficiency Blossom end rot of tomatoes Reduced growth or death of growing tips Photo one www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/nelsons/Misc/ Photo two W A Dept of Agriculture

Magnesium deficiency Initial yellowing of old leaves between veins eg tomatoes and citrus Spreads to younger leaves Poor fruit development Photo one Cornell University Photo two SBS Vasilis garden

Sulphur deficiency Initial yellowing of young growth spreading to whole plant Similar to nitrogen deficiency but affects young leaves first eg beans http://www.roots.psu.edu

Micro nutrients Iron Copper Manganese Zinc Boron Molybdenum Chlorine

Iron deficiency Yellow or white patches between veins similar to magnesium deficiency but mainly on alkaline soils or potting mixes Spots of dead leaf tissue Photo 1 pin oak Photo 2 citrus www.bexar-tx.tamu.edu www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/ hortnews/files/images

Copper deficiency Sandy soils or high organic matter soils Light chlorosis Permanent loss of turgor in the young leaves. Young leaves may become dark green and twisted or misshapen Steely wool in sheep Photo 1 www.progressivegardens.com Photo 2 www.marc.asci.ncsu.edu

Manganese toxicity Deficiency rare on Australian soils Toxicity more common on acid soils Older leaves with brown spots surrounded by chlorotic zone. Eg Oranges www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Zinc deficiency Chlorosis between the veins Eg citrus & sorghum Occurs in alkaline or low organic matter soils May occur when soil phosphorus levels are high Photo 1 www.actagro.com Photo 2 www.icrisat.org

Molybdenum Common in low pH soils Whip tail and leaf distortion in brassicas May express as nitrogen deficiency Stunted growth of legumes

Boron deficiency Hollow heart in brassicas Death of growing tips in radiata pine Photo 1 www.umassvegetable.org

Chlorine (salt) toxicity Yellowing and light brown burn of leaf tip Burn extends back from tip and moves along leaf margins There is a variable degree of yellowing ahead of the burnt tissue Photos 1-3 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au