Plant Deficiency Chart
Essential nutrients are required by the plants to grow and function normally.
We can define the sufficiency range of a plant as the range of nutrients required for satisfyingthe nutritional demands of the plant while maximizing its growth as well.
Nutrient levels outside the sufficiency range of the plants will result in a decline in the health of the plants because of deficiency or toxicity.
A plant suffers from nutrient deficiency when it does not receive any of the essential nutrients in sufficient amounts to satisfy its requirements when it comes to development.
For example, some typical nutrient deficiencies in plants like Wyoming and Montana happen to be phosphorus and nitrogen with some deficiencies of sulfur, potassium, chloride, boron, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron.
Table of Contents
Common deficiency symptoms in plants
It will be possible to detect nutrient deficiencies in plants by looking at the symptoms.
It is a fact that every single deficiency symptom will be associated with some particular functions of the nutrient in the plant.
We can categorize the symptoms caused by nutritional deficiencies into as many as 5 groups:
• Chlorosis
• Stunted growth
• Purplish-red coloring
• Necrosis
• Interveinal chlorosis
The term stunting implies that there is a deficiency in nutrients that can play an important role when it comes to the development of the plant.
For instance, the plant might suffer from small stature as well as sluggish development.
On the other hand, chlorosis can lead to the plant or the leaves turning yellow or light green.
In this case, there is a deficiency of nutrients required for photosynthesis and production of chlorophyll.
Interveinal chlorosis happens to be the condition when the leaf tissue becomes yellow between the veins while the veins remain green.
This kind of condition takes place when several nutrients such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, and nickel are deficient.
Plant stems and leaves often suffer from purplish-red discolorations because of excessive levels of a purple-colored pigment known as anthocyanin that can gather when there is a disruption of the plant’s functions.
It can be somewhat difficult to diagnose this particular symptom since it might also be possible for disease, cold temperatures, and drought to cause this pigment to accumulate.
Necrosis usually takes place in the later phases of any deficiency and several parts of the plant might be first affected so that it becomes brown and perishes.
Further assessment of symptoms linked to some specific locations on the plant or leaf patterns will be required for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies because of the fact that several nutrient deficiencies might produce identical symptoms.
This can be explained further by a plant deficiency chart which will provide you with visual representations of some typical symptoms that can be caused by nutrient deficiency in plants.
1. Nitrogen
Plants require nitrogen to produce nucleic acids, chlorophyll, as well as proteins.
Nitrogen deficiency symptoms can be the general chlorosis of lower leaves, necrosis of older leaves, as well as sluggish and stunted development.
Plants that are suffering from a deficiency of nitrogen are going to mature early and the yield plus proper quantity will be reduced on most occasions.
A yellowish discoloration in cereals from the tip of the leaf backward in a “V” form is quite common.
Inadequate amounts of nitrogen in cereals will likewise cause slender stalks, few tillers, as well as shorter heads.
Potatoes suffering from a deficiency of nitrogen will exhibit small tubers and leaf curling.
It is possible for fields deficient in nitrogen to be patchy or even in appearance which will depend on the conditions in favor of the deficiency.
2. Phosphorus
This particular nutrient is required by plants for developing energy (ATP), nucleic acids, and sugars.
The deficiency of phosphorus is typically more noticeable in the case of plants that are young and which require more phosphorus compared to the mature ones.
The deficiency of these nutrients can usually turn a plant’s leaves and stems to dark green and this can appear to be stunted as well.
This particular deficiency is going to affect the older leaves initially and there might be a purplish discoloration because of the gathering of sugars in these plants.
On some occasions, the tips of the leaves might become brown and eventually die.
It is a fact that plants struggling with a deficiency of phosphorus can appear to be weak and their maturity can be delayed as well.
It is also possible for the expansion of the leaf surface to become somewhat inhibited which can make the leaves become small and curled.
The deficiency of phosphorus in the case of potatoes can make the leaves curl up and the tubers can start exhibiting brown internal specks that often radiate out from the center.
3. Potassium
Plants make use of potassium to activate enzymes as well as co-enzymes, formation of proteins, photosynthesis, as well as sugar transport.
The deficiency of potassium is not going to result in any perceptible symptoms immediately.
There might be a reduction in development rate in the initial stages while necrosis and chlorosis might happen in the later phases.
The older leaves that have been affected by this condition will depict localized chlorotic or mottled areas.
With the progression of the deficiency of potassium, it is possible for the entire leaf to become yellow.
There can also be the development of small yellow or white necrotic spots as well.
In the case of alfalfa, the appearance of white spots will happen on the edges of the leaves.
Several cultivators, particularly barley, are going to develop higher numbers of tillers in case potassium is deficient.
4. Magnesium
Being the central molecule in chlorophyll, magnesium happens to be a vital co-factor when it comes to the generation of ATP.
The deficiency of magnesium is not common in the majority of the Wyoming and Montana soils since the concentration of magnesium is sufficient out there.
Magnesium deficiency symptoms comprise the margins of leaves becoming reddish-purple or yellow and also interveinal chlorosis.
In the case of wheat, there will be an occurrence of yellowish-green patches resulting in distinct mottling while it is possible for alfalfa leaves to become curled and have reddish undersides as well.
On the other hand, the leaves of potatoes and sugarbeets suffering from a deficiency of magnesium can become brittle and stiff while the veins can become twisted on some occasions.
5. Iron
It is known to many of us that iron can play an essential role when it comes to the respiration and photosynthesis of plants.
A deficiency of iron can result in the reduction in the production of chlorophyll and this is usually exhibited by interveinal chlorosis on most occasions.
With the development of this deficiency, it is possible for the entire leaf to become whitish-yellow and it can result in necrosis in the long run.
Moreover, the plant can also suffer from slow development.
In case we view from a distance, fields having a deficiency of iron will exhibit yellow areas that are irregularly shaped, particularly where the subsoil is exposed on the surface.
Closing remarks
The deficiency of nutrients can result in damage to plant health as well as productivity plus the appearance of some visual symptoms.
If you want to get a visual representation of these symptoms caused by the deficit of nutrients, then it’ll be a sensible idea to get hold of a plant deficiency chart.
The general deficiency symptoms consist of chlorosis, stunted growth, purple or red discoloration, interveinal chlorosis, as well as necrosis.
Always remember that the deficiencies of nutrients tend to happen in the older and lower leaves, unlike the younger and upper ones.
Moreover, in the event of an excessive amount of nutrients, the uptake of other nutrients can be inhibited by certain nutrients which can result in deficiency symptoms as well.
