Does your plant show some color changes that create concern? Perhaps it has turned yellow, purplish, or has a burnt tip? While several factors may result in these symptoms, mineral deficiency is among the top culprits.
Generally, plants require different minerals in particular quantities to grow healthy. However, the minerals should neither be excessive nor insufficient. An excess of certain minerals may block the uptake of others through antagonism. It can also lead to stimulation where there is an increased need for another mineral in the plant.
Insufficiency isn’t better either. When plants can’t get an adequate supply of minerals, they fail to meet the demand for basic cellular processes. When a certain mineral is inadequate, a plant tends to exhibit specific symptoms on the leaves.
Let’s look at the various symptoms of nutrition deficiency in plants.
Macronutrients
Plants require these nutrients in large quantities.
Nitrogen
The older leaves turn yellow proceeded by younger leaves. This yellowing starts from the tip towards the base. Your plant is simply not producing sufficient chlorophyll for effective photosynthesis. Therefore, if the older leaves of your crop are turning yellow, the first thing you may want to determine is whether there is an inadequate nitrogen supply.
Phosphorus
Older leaves develop a purplish or reddish coloration, particularly on the underside of the leaf. The purplish or reddish color results from the accumulation of a pigment called anthocyanin.
Potassium
Scorching i.e., yellowing coloration and brown spots develop along the leaf edges.
Calcium
The newer upper leaves begin to curl and develop tip burn i.e., browning of the leaf tip.
Sulfur
New leaves develop uniform yellowing. Sulfur deficiency may resemble nitrogen deficiency. The difference is that sulfur deficiency symptoms show in newer leaves while nitrogen deficiency show in older leaves.
Magnesium
Interveinal yellowing or chlorosis on the older leaves.
Micronutrients
Plants require these nutrients in smaller quantities.
Iron
The deficiency symptom exhibited when a plant has inadequate iron is interveinal yellowing on the upper young leaves. Fading may continue to a point you see through the leaf.
Zinc
Interveinal chlorosis occurs on the newer leaves. Plants develop small, distorted leaves which form a rosette (a circular arrangement of leaves around the stem)
Boron
The common deficiency symptom is the death of terminal buds. Besides, you may notice brittleness and thickening of the younger upper leaves.
Molybdenum
Older leaves begin to turn yellow, a symptom that resembles nitrogen deficiency. However, the leaves often start to roll and become deformed
Manganese
When a plant doesn’t get adequate manganese, you may observe interveinal chlorosis on the young leaves. Other symptoms include necrotic spots, dead spots, patches, or streaks on the upper leaves.
Copper
Upper leaves begin to twist and become dark green. Necrotic spots develop at the leaf tips and leaf edges.
Plant growth and production require proper nutrition. Understanding how the plant behaves when a certain nutrient is inadequate will inform you on whether and how to deploy a nutrition program.
Even better, conducting a plant tissue analysis and a soil test in Kenya will confirm to you that indeed the mineral is insufficient and supplementation is necessary. A soil test helps evaluate and predict nutrient availability in the soil. On the other hand, plant analysis helps evaluate mineral uptake by the plant.