Table 20

Table 20. Nutrient-Deficiency Symptoms

Nutrient Plant Symptoms Occurrence

Major elements

Nitrogen

Lower leaves first to show symptoms, become light green to yellowish and size is reduced. Weak growth.

Lighter soils that are easily leached by excessive rainfall or irrigation

Phosphorus

Stems are thin and shortened. Purplish discoloration of leaves on plants with shortened internodes. Stunted plant growth and delayed maturity.

Deficiencies more prevalent under cold, wet soil conditions. Low pH soils.

Potassium

First seen on older leaves which become grayish tan in color followed by a scorching of the leaf margins.

Lighter soils that are easily leached by excessive rainfall or irrigation.

Minor elements

Boron

Growing points die; stems are shortened and hard; leaves are distorted. Specific symptoms include browning of cauliflower, cracked stem of celery, blackheart of beet and internal browning of turnip.

On soils with a pH above 6.8 or on crops with a high boron requirement.

Calcium

Stem elongation restricted by death of the growing point. Root tips die and root growth is restricted. Specific symptoms include blossom-end-rot of tomato, brown heart of escarole, celery blackheart, and carrot cavity spot

On acid soils, following leaching, on soils with very high potassium levels, or on very dry soils.

Copper

Yellowing of leaves. Leaves may become elongated. Onion bulbs are soft with thin pale-yellow scales.

Most cases of copper deficiency occur on muck or peat soils.

Iron

Distinct yellow or white areas appear between the veins on the youngest leaves.

On soils with pH above 7.5.

Magnesium

Initially older leaves show yellowing between the veins; continued deficiency causes younger leaves to become affected. Older leaves may fall with prolonged deficiency.

On acid soils, on soils with very high potassium levels, or on very light soils subject to leaching.

Manganese

Yellow mottled areas, not as intense as with iron deficiency, appear on the younger leaves. This finally results in an overall pale appearance. In beets foliage becomes densely red. Onions and corn show narrow stripping of yellow.

On soils with a pH above 6.7.

Molybdenum

Pale distorted very narrow leaves with some interveinal yellowing on older leaves. Whip-tail of cauliflower; small, open loose curds.

On very acid soils.

Zinc

Small reddish-brown spots on cotyledon leaves of beans. Green and yellow broad stripping at base of leaves of corn. Interveinal yellowing with marginal burning on beets.

On wet soils in early spring; often related to heavy phosphorus fertilization.

Sulphur

General yellowing of younger leaves and reduced growth.

On very sandy soils, low in organic matter, especially following continued use of sulphur-free fertilizers and especially in areas that receive little atmospheric sulphur.

Chlorine

Deficiencies very rare

Usually only under laboratory conditions.

Source: Univ. Fla. Vegetable Production Guide. SP # 170. Don Maynard and George Hochmuth

Close window to return to Appendix.

Nutrient	Plant Symptoms	Occurrence
Major elements
Nitrogen	Lower leaves first to show symptoms, become light green to yellowish and size is reduced. Weak growth.	Lighter soils that are easily leached by excessive rainfall or irrigation
Phosphorus	Stems are thin and shortened. Purplish discoloration of leaves on plants with shortened internodes. Stunted plant growth and delayed maturity.	Deficiencies more prevalent under cold, wet soil conditions. Low pH soils.
Potassium	First seen on older leaves which become grayish tan in color followed by a scorching of the leaf margins.	Lighter soils that are easily leached by excessive rainfall or irrigation.
Minor elements
Boron	Growing points die; stems are shortened and hard; leaves are distorted. Specific symptoms include browning of cauliflower, cracked stem of celery, blackheart of beet and internal browning of turnip.	On soils with a pH above 6.8 or on crops with a high boron requirement.
Calcium	Stem elongation restricted by death of the growing point. Root tips die and root growth is restricted. Specific symptoms include blossom-end-rot of tomato, brown heart of escarole, celery blackheart, and carrot cavity spot	On acid soils, following leaching, on soils with very high potassium levels, or on very dry soils.
Copper	Yellowing of leaves. Leaves may become elongated. Onion bulbs are soft with thin pale-yellow scales.	Most cases of copper deficiency occur on muck or peat soils.
Iron	Distinct yellow or white areas appear between the veins on the youngest leaves.	On soils with pH above 7.5.
Magnesium	Initially older leaves show yellowing between the veins; continued deficiency causes younger leaves to become affected. Older leaves may fall with prolonged deficiency.	On acid soils, on soils with very high potassium levels, or on very light soils subject to leaching.
Manganese	Yellow mottled areas, not as intense as with iron deficiency, appear on the younger leaves. This finally results in an overall pale appearance. In beets foliage becomes densely red. Onions and corn show narrow stripping of yellow.	On soils with a pH above 6.7.
Molybdenum	Pale distorted very narrow leaves with some interveinal yellowing on older leaves. Whip-tail of cauliflower; small, open loose curds.	On very acid soils.
Zinc	Small reddish-brown spots on cotyledon leaves of beans. Green and yellow broad stripping at base of leaves of corn. Interveinal yellowing with marginal burning on beets.	On wet soils in early spring; often related to heavy phosphorus fertilization.
Sulphur	General yellowing of younger leaves and reduced growth.	On very sandy soils, low in organic matter, especially following continued use of sulphur-free fertilizers and especially in areas that receive little atmospheric sulphur.
Chlorine	Deficiencies very rare	Usually only under laboratory conditions.