Deficiency symptoms of plant nutrients (micronutrients and macronutrients)

1. SAM HIGGINBOTTOM UNIVERSITY OF
AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES
Prayagraj, U.P.
Deficiency symptoms of plant nutrients
SUBJECT- SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION (SSAC-723)
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr. Amreen Hasan
SHUATS
SUBMITTED BY:
Name- Suchismita Naik (19MSHFS027)
Kiran Mandal (19MSHFS025)
Poonam Kumari (19MSHFS034)
Ankita Das (19MSHFS038)
M.Sc.Horticulture (Fruit Science)
3rd Sem., 2nd Year
NAI, SHUATS
1

2. CONTENT
SI.No. TOPIC SLIDE NO.
1. Plant Nutrients 3
2. Symptoms 4
3. Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms 5
4. Nutrient Deficiencies 6
5. Macronutrient Deficiencies and Soils 7
6. Micronutrient Deficiencies and Soil 8
7. Deficieny Symptoms 9-24
8. Reference 25
2

3. Deficiency Symptoms of Plant
Nutrients
Plant Nutrient:
• The plant nutrient is a “food” which is
composed of certain chemical elements often
referred to as ‘plant nutrient’ or plant food
elements considered very essential for growth
and development of plants.
3

4. Symptom: is any perceptible change in known
structure, appearance or function.
These include:
•Yellowing (chlorosis)
•Death (necrosis)
•Lesions
•Malformations
•Malfunctions
•Reduced growth and yield
4

5. Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
• Nutrient deficiency symptoms usually appear
on the plant when one or more nutrients are in
short supply.
• In many cases, deficiency may occur because
an added nutrient is not in the form the plant
can use.
• Deficiency symptoms for specific elements are
included on the "Key to Nutrient Disorders".
5

6. Nutrient Deficiencies
• Every soil is not susceptible to the same
nutrient deficiencies.
• For example, coarse-textured soils low in
organic matter are susceptible to sulfur
deficiencies whereas sulfur is usually in
adequate supply in clayey soils or soils high in
organic matter.
6

7. Macronutrient Deficiencies & Soils
7

8. Micronutrient Deficiencies & Soils
8

9. Deficiency Symptoms-NITROGEN
(N):
• Nitrogen is highly mobile element in plants and so
deficiency is exhibited in older/ bottom leaves.
1. Yellowing of older leaves due to inhibition of
chloroplasts and chlorophyl synthesis.As the deficiency
of Nitrogen becomes severe “Chlorosis” of leaves is
observed.
2. Plants become dwarfed or stunted growth.
3. Tends to advance the time of flower bud formation and
reduce yield.
4. Fruits become hard, small, low bearing capacity of tre
5. Reduces fertilization, premature dropping and fruits
may become seed less.
6. Severe deficiency leads to Necrosis of plant leaves
(complete death of leaf). 9

10. N deficiency in barley. Top leaves are
N deficient, bottom leaf is normal
10

11. Deficiency Symptoms-PHOSPHORUS
(P):
• Stunted and slow growth of plants due to its
effects on cell division and meristematic tissue
development.
• Leaves are small and defoliation starts from
the older leaves and premature leaf fall.
• Purplish discoloration of foliage due to
anthocyanin pigment. Plants develop dead
necrotic areas on the leaves, petioles or fruits.
• Slender and woody stem with under
developed roots are characteristics symptoms. 11

12. P deficiency in alfalfa (left) and
normal alfalfa (right). P deficient leaf
is dark green and stunted. (Jacobsen
and Jasper, 1991)
P deficiency in corn. Leaves are
purplish and tips are brown and
necrotic.
12

13. Deficiency Symptoms-POTASSIUM
(K):
1. Weakening of stem and Lodging of crops and easy
susceptibility to pest and diseases.
2. Scorching of leaves and burning appearance of leaf
margins and tip
3. Poor keeping quality of fruits. The quality of fruits and
vegetables decreased.
4.Marginal necrosis and burning of leaf tips.
5.Stunted growth, shortening of internodes.
6. It causes great disturbance in the water economy of
plants and more water is lost per unit dry matter.
7. Poor sprouting of vines.
8. Severe attack of the grapes with Botrytis cinerea due to K
deficiency.
13

14. K deficient (left) and
normal (right) trifoliates.
White spotting occurring
along leaf margins in
deficient leaf.
K deficiency in corn. Older
leaves are chlorotic and leaf
edges are burned, but the midrib
remains green(Bennett, 1993).
14

15. Deficiency Symptoms - Ca
• Growing points usually damaged or dead (die
back).
• Margins of leaves developing from the
growing point are first to turn brown.
15

16. Deficiency Symptoms - Mg
• Marginal chlorosis or chlorotic
blotches which later merge.
• Leaves show yellow chlorotic
interveinal tissue on some
species, reddish purple
progressing to necrosis on others.
• Younger leaves affected with
continued stress.
• Chlorotic areas may become
necrotic, brittle, and curl upward.
• Symptoms usually occur late in
the growing season.
16

17. Deficiency Symptoms - S
• Leaves uniformly light green, followed by
yellowing and poor spindly growth.
• Uniform chlorosis does not occur
17

18. S deficient wheat plant (left) has light green leaves and stunted growth as
compared to normal wheat plant (right)
18

19. Deficiency Symptoms - Cu
• Leaves wilt,
become chlorotic,
then necrotic.
• Wilting and
necrosis are not
dominant
symptoms.
Cu deficiency in wheat: severely affected
(left), moderately affected (center)
unaffected (right). Deficient wheat shows
melanosis with poor grain production and
fill. 19

20. Deficiency Symptoms - Fe
• Distinct yellow or
white areas appear
between veins, and
veins eventually
become chlorotic.
• Symptoms are rare on
mature leaves
Interveinal chlorosis. (Fe
deficiency; Bennett, 1993)
20

21. Deficiency Symptoms - Mn
• Chlorosis is less
marked near veins.
• Some mottling occurs
in interveinal areas.
• Chlorotic areas
eventually become
brown, transparent, or
necrotic.
• Symptoms may appear
later on older leaves. 21

22. Deficiency Symptoms - Zn
• Leaves may be
abnormally small
and necrotic.
• Internodes are
shortened.
• Lower Auxin level.
Zn deficiency displaying striped interveinal
chlorosis
22

23. Deficiency Symptoms - B
• Young, expanding
leaves may be
necrotic or distorted
followed by death of
growing points.
• Internodes may be
short, especially at
shoot terminals.
• Stems may be rough,
cracked, or split
along the vascular
bundles.
Alfalfa with B deficiency; chlorosis
of upper leaves and rosetting of
leaves near base.
(Jacobsen and Jasper, 1991) 23

24. Deficiency Symptoms-Molybdenum
(Mo)
1. Mo deficiency symptoms often
resemble N deficiency symptoms
with stunted growth and chlorosis
occurring in legumes.
2. Other symptoms of Mo
deficiency include pale leaves that
may be scorched,cupped, or
rolled.
3. Leaves may also appear thick or
brittle, and will eventually wither,
leaving only the midrib.
24

25. REFERENCE:
1. Ann McCauley, Soil Scientist; Clain Jones,
Extension Soil Fertility Specialist; and Jeff
Jacobsen, College of Agriculture
Dean(June,2011)- Plant Nutrient Functions and
Deficiency and Toxicity Symptoms
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