This document summarizes physiological disorders in turmeric caused by deficiencies in nitrogen, potassium, and iron. Nitrogen deficiency results in pale or yellow green leaves and reduced growth. Potassium deficiency affects young leaves and causes reduced growth, burned leaf edges, and wilting. Iron deficiency shows up as interveinal chlorosis in young leaves that progresses to the entire leaf turning white. Suggested correction measures include foliar sprays of urea or DAP for nitrogen, potassium application or foliar K2SO4, and soil and foliar application of FeSO4 for iron.

2. Turmeic Physiological
Disorders
ToT to FFS Staff
By Mr. Allah Dad Khan
Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK
MINFAL

3. Nitrogen
Symptoms
• Pale or yellow green leaves
(chlorosis) symptoms appear
first in the older leaves.
Reddish tints gradually appear
at the leaf margins spread
toward the midrib or central
vein. Leaves small in size.
Overall growth is markedly
reduced. Deficiency results in
reduction of rhizome yield.
• Correction measure: Foliar
spray of urea 1% or DAP 2%
twice at weekly interval

4. Potassium
Symptoms
• Since potassium is very mobile
within the plant, symptoms only
develop on young leaves in the
case of extreme deficiency.
Reduced growth, shortened
internodes, marginal burn or
scorch (brown leaf edges),
necrotic (dead) spots in the leaf,
reduction of lateral breaks and
tendency to wilt readily
• Correction measure: Application
of K @ 3.7 Kg/acre in four splits
(basal, 60, 90 and 120 DAP) or
foliar spray of K2SO4 @ 1% at
fortnightly interval

5. Iron
Symptoms
• The deficiency of iron shows
up first in the young leaves of
plants, which develop
interveinal chlorosis and it
progresses rapidly over the
entire leaf. In severe cases, the
leaves turn completely white.
• Correction measure: Soil
application of FeSO4 @ 12
Kg/acre followed by foliar
spray of FeSO4 @ 0.5% during
3rd, 4th and 5th months.