This document discusses plant nutrient deficiencies and toxicities. It provides information on the role of various nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and others. For each nutrient, it describes typical deficiency symptoms seen in plants and recommended sources to correct deficiencies. Charts are included showing high, moderate, and low nutrient demand crops for nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Images from the APS Digital Image Collections demonstrate example deficiency and toxicity symptoms for different plant nutrients.

1. Plant Nutrient Imbalance
Symptoms
M. Elena Garcia, Professor
Horticulture Dept.
University of Arkansas

2. Visual Observations
Visual symptoms you do
not want to see!

3. Deficiency Range Sufficiency Toxicity Range
Relative Foliar Nutrient Content
TREERESPONSE

4. Nitrogen
Role
Primary building block for all plant
parts- leaves, shoots, roots, fruit
buds etc.
Symptoms
Older leaves affected first.
Leaves are small, uniformly light
green or yellowish. Tips and
margins may show necrosis. Bark
is yellowish orange. Shoots/spurs-
short, thin and spindly. Fruit set
may be reduced.
Sources
Animal manures, fish meal, blood
meal, fish emulsion, Chilean nitrate.

5. Nitrogen Demand by Crops
High demand (more
than 120 lb N/acre
removed in one
season)
Moderate demand
(between 50 and 120
lb N/ acre removed in
one season)
Low demand (less
than 50 lb/acre
removed in one
season)
Corn Most vegetable crops Root crops (carrots,
sweet potatoes)
Potatoes Short-stemmed cereals Tall-stemmed cereals
Tomatoes Garden legumes (peas,
beans)
Orchards
Celery Turfgrasses
Forage (hay, pasture)
(Baker, 2010)

6. Nitrogen
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

7. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

8. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

9. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

10. Potassium
Role
Enzyme activator, necessary
for the formation and
translocation of sugars,
proteins, plant growth
hormones.
Symptoms
Older leaves affected first,
necrosis advancing from
margins toward mid-rib;
slender shoots and weak
spurs; more susceptible to
winter injury; smaller, poorly
colored, low acidity fruit.
Sources
K chloride (muriate of
potash), K sulfate, KMg
sulfate, Greensand, kelp
meal.
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

11. Potassium Demand by Crops
High demand (more
than 100 lb K/acre
removed in one
season)
Moderate demand (
50 to 100 lb K /acre
removed in one
season)
Low demand (less
than 50 lb K/acre
removed in one
season)
Corn Most vegetable crops Orchard crops
Alfalfa Small grains
Celery
(Baker, 2010)

12. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

13. Phosphorous
Role
Cellular energy transfer and
storage; nucleic acid component
or regulator cofactor.
Symptoms
Deficiencies generally not seen
in fruit crops. New leaves are
small, bluish green, margins or
main veins or undersides of
leaves having purple
pigmentation. Older leaves
drop early. Flowering is
reduced. Affects fruit quality.
Sources
Bone meal, fish meal, rock
phosphate.
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

14. Phosphorous Demand by Crops
High demand (30 lb
P/acre removed in
one season
Moderate demand
(between 15 and 30
lb P/acre removed in
one season)
Low demand (less
than 15 lb P/acre
removed in one
season)
Corn Most vegetable crops Peppers
Potatoes Orchards
Tomatoes Beans
Celery
Cucumber
Forage (hay, pasture)
(Baker, 2010)

15. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

16. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

17. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

18. Magnesium
Role
Molecular component of
chlorophyll ; enzyme
activator.
Symptoms
Older and mid-shoot leaves,
and those on spurs bearing
fruit are affected first. Yellow-
brown necrotic areas; shoots
and spurs are thin, weak,
and brittle; blind wood and
premature fruit drop.
Sources
KMg sulfate, Mg sulfate
(Epsom salts).
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

19. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

20. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

21. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

22. Calcium
Role
One of the most important
element for fruit quality.
Component of cell wall;
regulates nutrient uptake
and movement in plant.
Symptoms
Deficiency symptoms difficult
to identify in leaves. Shoot
and root growth inhibited;
storage disorders-bitter.
Sources
Calcium chloride from
approved sources (extracted
from brine, foliar only), bone
meal, gypsum, lime

23. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

24. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

25. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

26. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

27. Boron
Role
Aids in formation of pollen
tube and feeder roots, and
translocation of Ca, sugars,
plant hormones.
Symptoms
Flower development and fruit
set decreased; young leaves
often small, misshapen;
corkiness in fruit flesh,
wrinkled skin, Sources
Soulbor, Borax.
TOXICITY
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

28. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

29. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

30. Boron Toxicity

31. Iron
Role
Required for chlorophyll
formation; a chloroplast
enzyme component
Symptoms
Chlorosis of tip leaves while
veins remain green. Shoot
growth is stunted and may
die back.
Sources
Chealted materials (care
must be taken not to burn
leaves).
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and
Toxicities in Plants

32. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

33. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

34. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

35. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

36. Copper
Role: Important enzyme
component, chlorophyll
synthesis, carbohydrate and
protein metabolism
Symptoms: Terminal buds die.
Chlorotic leaves. Stunted
growth. Younger leaves are
affected first. Leaves are
stunted or misshapen with
irregular margins. Whitish,
mottled chlorosis between
veins. Fruit color, quality,
and size are affected
Sources
Chealted materials (care
must be taken not to burn
leaves)
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

37. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

38. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

39. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

40. Zinc
Role
Component or regulator
cofactor of enzymes, plant
hormones proteins (i.e.. aids
in normal growth and
fruiting).
Symptoms
Leaves at shoot tip are
stunted and misshapen with
mottled necrosis; little leaf
disease; leaf rosettes may
be confused with winter
injury; reduced fruit set and,
quality, and size.
Sources
Chealted materials (care
must be taken not to burn
leaves), Bordeaux mixture
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in
Plants

41. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

42. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

43. Manganese Toxicity
Deficiency
Apple
APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

44. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants

45. APS Digital Image Collections: Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities in Plants