The document outlines nutrient deficiency management strategies in various crops, detailing specific corrective measures for major, secondary, and micronutrient deficiencies. It includes recommended applications of fertilizers and foliar sprays for crops such as rice, maize, pulses, and oilseeds to address deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron. The guidance provides a comprehensive approach tailored for different crop types to enhance agricultural productivity.

1. NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY MANAGEMENT
Dr. K. Vanangamudi
Formerly Dean (Agriculture),
Dean Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College,
Professor & Head,
Seed Science & Technology, TNAU, Coimbatore.
Nutrient deficiency and corrective measures
Major nutrients
S.
No
Crop N P K
Cereals
1 Rice Soil application of urea
@ 330/ha (110/ ac at
three times). Foliar
application of urea 1%
at weekly interval till
the symptoms
disappear.
 Application of
phosphobacteria as a
seed coating, or as a
seedling dip.
 Application of P
fertilizer 15-30 kg P
ha-1 to the soil, rock
phosphate broadcast
before flooding
when soil pH is low.
Foliar spray of
KCl @ 5gram/lit
at 15 days
interval up to the
disappearance of
symptoms
Millets
2 Cumbu Foliar spray of urea 1%
or DAP 2%.
Foliar spray of DAP
2% 2-3 sprays.
Foliar spray of
KCl 1%.
3 Maize Foliar spray of 0.5%
urea (5 g /lit) for twice
at 10 days interval.
Foliar spray of DAP
2%.
Foliar spray of
KCl 1%.
4 Sorghum Foliar spray of urea 1%
or DAP 2%.
Foliar spray of DAP
2% 2-3 sprays.
Foliar spray of
KCl 1%
Pulses
5 Bengalgram Foliar spray of 1%
DAP
Foliar spray of
1% KCl
6 Blackgram
7 Cowpea Foliar spray of
KCl 1% can
control this
deficiency.
8 Greengram 10-20kg N/ha has been
recommended or foliar
spray of DAP 2% at
weekly intervals.
Soil application
of murate of
potash spraying
of 1% potash at
flowering stage
9 Redgram Foliar spray of DAP
2% at fortnightly
interval.
Foliar spray of
KCl 1% at
weekly intervals.

2. 10 Soyabean Foliar spray urea 1% at
fortnightly interval
Foliar spray of
KCl 1% at
fortnightly
interval
Oilseeds
11 Groundnut Foliar spray of urea 1 to
2% at fortnightly
intervals.
Foliar spray of
KCl 1 to 2% at
fortnightly
intervals
12 Sesame Soil application of
single super phosphate
2% DAP foliar spray
at fortnightly
intervals.
13 Sunflower Foliar spray of 1% urea
at weekly intervals.
Soil application of
SPP or foliar
application of DAP
2%.
Soil application
of murate of
potash 20 kg/ha
at foliar spray of
KCl 1%.
Fibre crops
14 Cotton Urea 1% foliar spray or
DAP 2% can control
this deficiency
Foliar application of
2% DAP.
Foliar spray of 1
% KCl
Sugar crops
15 Sugarcane Soil application of N
fertilizer or foliar spray
of urea 1-2% twice at
weekly interval.
 Foliar spray of DAP
2% twice at
fortnight interval
 Applying large
amounts upto 1
tonne/ha of rock
phosphate
 Application of triple
super phosphate @
0.5 to 0.75 kg /ha
Foliar spray of
KCl 1% twice at
fortnightly
interval
16 Sugarbeet Foliar spray urea 1%
twice at weekly
interval.
Foliar spray of DAP
2% twice at
fortnight interval.
Foliar spray of
KCl 1% twice at
weekly interval

3. Secondary nutrients
S.
No
Crop Ca Mg S
Cereals
1 Rice Apply CaCl2 or Ca
containing foliar
sprays for rapid
treatment of severe
Ca deficiency. Apply
gypsum in Ca-
deficient high pH
soils, e.g., on sodic
& high K soils.
Foliar application
of liquid fertilizers
containing Mg
(e.g., MgCl2 2%)
For moderate S
deficiency apply 10 kg S
ha-1
application of 20-40
kg S ha-1
.
Use slow acting S forms
(gypsum, elemental S) if
leaching is likely to be a
problem. Soil application
of calcium silicate: 120-
200 kg ha-1
or Potassium
silicate: 40-60 kg ha-1
.
Millets
2 Cumbu Foliar application of
CaSO4 2% twice.
Foliar spray of CaSO4
2%
3 Maize Foliar application of
CaSO4 2% twice.
Foliar spray of
MgSO4 2%.
Foliar spray of
MgSO4@1%
4 Sorghum Foliar application of
CaSO4 2% twice.
Foliar spray of
MgSO4 2%.
Foliar spray of CaSO4
2%.
Pulses
5 Bengal gram - - Foliar spray of CaSO4 @
0.5%.
6 Black gram - Foliar spray of
MgSO4 1% at
fortnightly
intervals.
Folia spray of
CaSO4@0.5-1.0%.
7 Cowpea - Foliar spray of 1%
MgSO4 at
fortnightly
intervals.
8 Green gram Foliar spray of
CaSO4 1% at
fortnightly intervals.
9 Red gram - Foliar spray of
MgSO4 2% and
1% Urea
Foliar spraying of
calcium sulphate 0.5 %
can control sulphur
deficiency.
10 Soyabean - Foliar spray of
MgSO4 @ 2% at
fortnightly interval
Foliar spraying of
calcium sulphate 0.5-1.0
% can control the
deficiency.
Oilseeds
11 Groundnut Soil application of
gypsum 200 kg/ha.
Soil application of
gypsum 200 kg/ha.
12 Sesame Soil application of
gypsum @ 50 kg/ha.
Foliar spray of 2%
MgSO4 at
Foliar spray 0.5 - 1% of
calcium sulphate

4. fortnightly
intervals.
13 Sunflower Foliar spray of
MgSO4@1-2%
Application of 25 kg
S/ha or 80 kg N+25 kg
S.
Fibre crops
14 Cotton Soil application of
gypsum @ 50 kg/ha.
Foliar spray of
MgSO4 @ 1 %
Foliar spray of MgSO4
@ 1 %
Sugar crops
15 Sugarcane Soil application of
100kg/ha of
Gypsum.
Soil application of
MgSO4 25kg/ha or
Foliar spray of
MgSO4 2% twice
at fortnight
interval.
Foliar spray of K2SO4
1% twice at fortnight
interval.
16 Sugarbeet Foliar spray of CaCl2
0.5% twice at
fortnight interval
Foliar spray of
MgSO4 1% twice
at Fortnight
interval.
Micronutrients
S.
No.
Crop Fe Mn Zn
Cereals
1 Rice Apply MnSO4 (5-20 kg
Mn ha-1) in bands along
rice row. Apply foliar
MnSO4 (1-5 kg Mn ha-1
in about 200 L water ha-
1
)
Broadcast ZnSO4 in
nursery seedbed. Dip
seedlings or presoak
seeds in a 2-4% ZnO
suspension. Apply 5-
10 kg Zn ha-1 as Zn
sulfate, apply 10-25
kg ha-1
ZnSO4 7 H2O.
Apply 0.5-1.5 %
ZnSO4 ha-1
as a foliar
spray. At tillering
(25-30 DAT), 2-3
repeated applications
at intervals of 10-14
days. Zn chelates
(e.g., Zn – EDTA)
can be used for foliar
application.
Millets
2 Cumbu Soil application of
20-25 Kg FeSO4 or
Soil application of
ZnSO4 20-25 Kg/ha

5. foliar spray of 1%
FeSO4 at weekly
interval.
or foliar spray of
ZnSO4 0.5%
3 Maize Soil application of
20-25 Kg FeSO4 or
foliar spray of 1%
FeSO4 at weekly
interval
Foliar spray of
MnSO4@2%
Soil application of
ZnSO4 20-25 Kg/ha
or foliar spray of
ZnSO4 0.5%.
4 Sorghum Soil application of
20-25 Kg FeSO4 or
foliar spray of 1%
FeSO4 at weekly
interval.
Foliar spray of MnSO4
0.2%
Soil application of
ZnSO4 20-25 Kg/ha
or foliar spray of
ZnSO4 0.5%
Pulses
5 Beans Foliar spray of
FeSO4 0.5%.
Soil application of 5-
10 kg ZnSO4 / ha or
foliar application of
0.5% ZnSO4.
6 Horsegram One hundred (10 g /
liter) Ferrous
sulphate through the
spray solution by
three times in the
space of ten days or
Apply Ferrous
sulphate by 25 kg
per hectare as basal.
7 Bengalgram Foliar spray of
FeSO4 @ 0.5%
Foliar spray of
ZnSO4@ 05.%
8 Blackgram Spraying of 1% MnSO4
during 20, 30, 40 DAS or
application 10 kg of
MnSO4 as a basal dose
Application of basal
dose ZnSO4 at the
rate of 25 kg per ha.
Spraying of 0.5%
ZnSO4 during 20, 30,
40th day after
sowing.
9 Cowpea Foliar spray of
FeSO4 @ 0.5%
Application of
manganese sulphate 5
kg/ha in soil.
Foliar spraying of
manganese sulphate
twice at 10 days interval.
10 Green gram Spraying of 1%
FeSO4 – 10 day
interval of 3 times.
Application of 25 kg
of FeSO4 as basal
dose.
Spraying of 1% MnSO4
during 20, 30, 40 DAS or
application 10 kg of
MnSO4 as a basal dose.
Application of basal
dose ZnSO4 at the
rate of 25 kg per ha.
Spraying of 0.5%
ZnSO4 during 20, 30,
40th day after
sowing.
11 Red gram Foliar spray of Spraying of manganese Foliar spray of

6. FeSO4 0.5% at
weekly intervals.
sulphate (5g / Litre) at 10
days interval.
ZnSO4 at 0.5% at
fortnightly interval or
soil application of
ZnSO4 10-15 kg/ha.
12 Soyabean Foliar spray of
FeSO4 1% at
fortnightly intervals
or soil application of
FeSO4 5 to 10 kg/ha
Foliar spray of MnSO4 @
0.5% at fortnightly
intervals or soil
application of MnSO4 @
20 to 25 kg/ha
Foliar spray of
ZnSO4 1% at
fortnightly intervals
or soil application of
ZnSO4 20 to 25 kg/ha
Oilseeds
13 Groundnut Foliar spray of 1%
FeSO4 on 30, 40 and
50 days after
sowing.
Foliar spray of MnSO4
0.5% at fortnightly
intervals / soil
application of MnSO4 5-
10 kg/ha.
Apply 25 kg
ZnSO4/ha (basal) or
foliar spray of ZnSO4
1% at fortnightly
intervals.
14 Sesame Foliar application of
ferrous sulfate 0.5%
at weekly interval.
Foliar spray of 0.2 –
0.3% MnSO4 solution 2-3
times at weekly intervals
or soil application of
MnSO4 10 kg/ha.
Foliar application of
ZnSO4 0.5% or soil
application of ZnSO4
10 kg/ha.
15 Sunflower Foliar spray of
FeSO4@0.5%
Foliar spray of 0.2 –
0.3% MnSO4 solution 2-3
times at weekly intervals
or soil application of
MnSO4 10 kg/ha.
Foliar spray of
ZnSO4@0.5%
Fibre crops
16 Cotton Soil application of
FeSO4 @ 5 kg/ha or
foliar spray of 0.5%
FeSO4.
Soil application of FeSO4
@ 5 kg/ha or foliar spray
of 0.5% FeSO4.
Soil application of
ZnSO4 5 kg/ha or
foliar application of
ZnSO4 1%.
Sugar crops
17 Sugarcane Foliar spraying of
250-500g of ferrous
sulphate dissolved in
100 lit of water or
Soil application of
25kg/ha of ferrous
sulphate (or)
Application of 100
kg of ferrous
sulphate mixed with
12.5 tonnes of
farmyard manure for
one hectare (or)
Alternatively foliar
spraying of 5 kg of
ferrous sulphate with
2.5 kg of urea in 500
litres of water for
one hectare should
Foliar spray of
MnSO4@1-2%
Foliar spray of
ZnSO4@0.5%

7. be done.
The foliar spraying
may be repeated at
an interval of 7-10
days depending upon
on the severity of the
disorder.
18 Sugarbeet Foliar spray of
FeSO4 0.5% twice at
fortnight interval
Foliar spray of MnSO4
@1%
Micronutrients
S.
No.
Crop Cu B Mo
Cereals
1 Rice Soil application
CuSO4 at 1-5 kg Cu
ha-1 or apply cupric
sulfate solution as
foliar spray.
Soil application of borax
at 0.5-3 kg ha-1 or as
foliar spray during
vegetative growth.
Millets
2 Cumbu Foliar spray of
CuSO4 0.2%
Foliar spray of Borax 0.5
% at fortnightly intervals
3 Maize Foliar spray of
CuSO4 @ 0.2%..
Foliar spray of Borax 0.5
% at fortnightly intervals.
4 Sorghum Foliar spray of
CuSO4 0.2%
Foliar spray of Borax 0.5
% at fortnightly intervals
Pulses
5 Beans Foliar spray of Borax
0.2%
6 Horse gram
7 Bengal
gram
8 Black gram Foliar spray of Borax
0.2% at fortnightly
intervals.
9 Cowpea Foliar spray of
borax@0.2%
10 Green gram Foliar spray of Borax
0.2% at fortnightly
intervals.
11 Red gram Spraying of Broron 0.2 %
at two week interval by
foliar spray.
12 Soyabean  Spraying of foliar
application of Borax @
3 g/Litre twice at 10
days interval.

8.  Application of Borax @
5g/ha
Oilseeds
13 Groundnut Foliar spray of
CuSO4 0.2% at
fortnightly intervals.
Apply Borax 10 kg +
Gypsum 200 kg/ha at 45
days after sowing.
14 Sesame Foliar spray Borax 0.2% at
fortnightly intervals.
15 Sunflower 2 to 3 sprays of 0.2%
Copper sulphate
solution at weekly
intervals.
Spray of Borax (0.2%) on
capitulum at ray floret
opening stage for
increasing seed filling,
Yield and oil content.
Fibre crops
16 Cotton Soil application of borax
0.5 kg/ha or foliar spray of
borax 0.2
Sugar crops
17 Sugarcane Foliar spray of
CuSO4@2%
Foliar spray of borax @
0.2-0.5%
Foliar spray of
sodium
molybdate@2mg/lit.
18 Sugarbeet Foliar spray of
CuSO4 0.25%.
Foliar spray of borax
@0.5%.