Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities

Jim Owen, Jr.

North Willamette Research andExtension Center

Key to Nutrient Deficiencies

Base of plant – mobile (N, P, K, Mg)

Whole (mid) plant – partially mobile (S, Mo)

Top of plant – immobile (Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B)Chlorosis (Mn, Fe)

Interveinal chlorosis with tan flecks (Mn)Interveinal chlorosis – yellow - necrosis (Fe)

Necrosis & distortion (Ca, B)

Mobile Nutrient – at base

-N

Immobile Nutrient – at top

Partially Mobile – entire plant

Mobile (at base) – N, P, K, Mg

Chlorosis is main early symptom• Uniform chlorosis

• N or P• Interveinal

chlorosis• Mg

• Rapid necrosis• K

Maple

Nitrogen vs. Phosphorus

Uniform chlorosis then necrosis on older leaves

StuntingEarly floweringLeaf abscission

Chlorosis then necrosis – old leaves

Severe stuntingDeep green foliagePossible purplingRoots longer & fewer

N P

Uniform Chlorosis – lower leaves

N Deficiency Symptoms

Uniform chlorosis of older leaves. Necrosis of older leaves. Abscission of older leaves if possible. Red pigment - old leaves - some

species Earlier flowering with marginal N

deficiency (later flowering if severe).

Nitrogen deficiency uniform chlorosis of lower leaves

-N

Azalea

Nitrogen deficiency stunting

0 5 10 20 40 60

grams of N applied in poly-coated urea

Maple

Uniform Chlorosis Followed by Necrosis

Nitrogen Deficiency

Tobacco here #2

N DeficiencyEarly Flowering, Severe Stunting

Nitrogen Deficiency

Red Pigmentationon Older Leaves

Blueberry

Marigold

Phosphorus Deficiency

Deeper green foliage.Heavy stunting (compact form).Purple (or red) pigmentation in several

species.Fewer & longer roots, more root mass

at first, less when deficiency intense.Lower leaf chlorosis necrosis

P Deficiency: deep green

ChamaecyparisImpatiens

Phosphate vs.Compactness

P2O5 as a % of N in post-plant fertilizer

P2O5 = 50% of N 15% 7.5% 0%

(e.g. 20-10-20) (13-2-13)

Phosphate vs.Compactness

-P +P

Thuja

Phosphorus Deficiency

longerbut fewer roots

lower leaf chlorosis

Phosphorus Deficiency

lower leaf necrosis

Phosphorus Deficiency

Nitrogen Toxicity

WiltingLeaf desiccation Root tip burnReduced uptake of

K, Ca, Mg

Ammonium Toxicity

•Leaf desiccation•Bud necrosis•Root burn•Plant death

Increasing Urea Rate (0 to 60 g)

Ammonium Toxicity

Older plant – pot mum

lower leaf chlorosis & necrosis root tip death

Ammonium Toxicity

Magnesium - Mobile (symptoms originate at the base)

• Interveinal chlorosis on older leaves

• Necrosis of older leaves

• Possible red on older leaves

Magnesium - Mobile chlorosis

(Maple)

(Viburnum)(Chamaecyparis )

Mg DeficiencyInterveinal Chlorosis

Older Leaves

Dogwood

Chrysanthemum

Necrosis

grape leaves

Magnesium - Mobile

Red Older Foliage

Blueberry

Magnesium - Mobile

Potassium – Mobile (symptom originates on old leaves)

• Chlorosis might occur briefly at tip and margin of old leaves.

• Rapid necrosis of margins or spotting across old leaf blades.

• Seedlings are often compact and deeper green prior to above symptoms.

Potassium – Mobile Necrosis

(Ginko) (Viburnum)

(Maple)

Necrotic Spotting

poinsettia pepper

K Deficiency

Sulfur - Partially Mobile (symptoms originate throughout entire plant)

• Uniform chlorosis on entire plant

Sulfur - Partially Mobile (symptoms originate throughout entire plant)

• Necrosis

Chlorosis and Necrosis of Young Leaves

Chlorosis of Stem and Leaves,

Flowers Faded and Necrotic

nemesia

Sulfur - Partially Mobile (symptoms originate throughout entire plant)

• Chlorosis • Fe or Mn

• Necrosis and Distortion• Ca or B

• Young and Recently Mature Leaves Affected

• Cu or Zn

Immobile Nutrient – at top

Immobile Nutrient – at top

Chlorosis Interveinal, uniform, or marginal on young leaves

MnFe

• Chlorosis• Chlorosis clears to yellow to white

• Necrosis

• Chlorosis• Tan Flecking

Immobile Nutrient – Fe vs Mn

(Rose)

Immobile Nutrient – Fe vs Mn

Maple

Immobile Nutrient – Fe vs Mn

tobacco

tan flecking

Immobile Nutrient – Ca vs B

Necrosis and Distortion

Ca B• Distortion, necrosis, chlorosis• Incomplete flower formation• Roots short, densely

branched, & thick

• Distortion, necrosis,(chlorosis)• Incomplete flower formation• Roots short, densely branched, & thick

---------• Short internodes – rosetting• Thick leaves, corking• Abortion, branching

Immobile Nutrient – Calcium

Viburnum Azalea

Ca caused chlorosis

Immobile Nutrient – Calcium

Ca caused meristem distortion and necrosis

Immobile Nutrient – Boron

B caused meristem distortion

Immobile Nutrient – Boron

B induced Crinkling of

young leaves due to patches

of cells not developing in the leaf blade.

Immobile Nutrient – Boron

Roots shorter, fewer, thicker,

and highly branched.

Nickel – Mouse ear

Birch

Immobile Nutrient – Cu vs Zn

Young and Recently Mature Leaves Affected

Cu• Leaves roll and curl• Variable chlorosis • Rapid necrosis of young

fully expanded leaves --------

• Smaller lighter colored flowers or none

Zn• Leaves may roll• Variable chlorosis• Rapid necrosis of young

fully expanded leaves --------

• Small leaves & short internodes

Immobile Nutrient – Copper

Sudden death of young leaves.

Azalea

Immobile Nutrient – Zinc

Interveinal necrosis

Beet

Immobile Nutrient – Zinc

Beet

Young Leaf Chlorosis

Recently Mature Leaf Necrosis

Additional Toxicities

Salt / Sodium Toxicitynecrosis

Grape

Salt / Chloride Toxicitydefoliation

Grape

Fluoride Toxicitynecrosis

Grape

Thanks…

Theo Aendekerk Paul NelsonJim GreenHarrell’s Fertilizer, Inc.

North Willamette Research andExtension Center

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/NWREC/