Nutrients and Deficiencies Flashcards
Nitrogen
-Promotes vegetative growth (green growth)
-Primary macronutrient most needed
-Too much can make leggy or cause pest problems
-can deplete plant in low light settings
Nitrogen deficiency signs
-slow and stunted growth
-chlorosis
-shows up in older leaves and tips of grasses
Phosphorus
-roots, flowers, fruits
-balances nitrogen
-needs pH reaction to be useable (6-7)
-often included in starter fertilizers
Phosphorus deficiency
-small stunted leaves
-dark green or reddish leaves
-shows up in older leaves
-delayed maturity
-poor root system
-plant size reduction
Potassium
-metabolism, nutrient transport, overall health, flowering
-second only to nitrogen in plant consumption
-regulates functions related to osmosis
-taken up by roots
-less mobile in clay soils (more available)
-uptake more rapid in neutral soils
Potassium deficiency
-scorched leaf margins on lower older leaves
-interveinal chlorosis
Calcium
-used in third greatest amount by plants
-cell walls and membranes, pectin, stress resistance, regulating plant functions
-availability depends on CEC
-excessive K and Mg can inhibit uptake
Calcium deficiency
-blossom end rot
-appears in new growth
Magnesium
-essential ingredient in chlorophyll
-aids uptake of other elements, activates many enzyme systems
-easily leached from soil
-K and P can inhibit uptake
Magnesium deficiency
-less resistant to drought, cold, disease
-interveinal chlorosis in older leaves
Sulfur
-least quantity needed of macronutrients
-making chlorophyll and proteins, seed production, stress tolerance
-readily leached
Sulfur deficiency
-stunted newer leaves
-pale green
-looks like nitrogen deficiency
Iron
-metallic trace element, trace element used in greatest amounts
-form chemicals, especially chlorophyll
-solubility relates directly to pH (less available above 6)
-Acid loving plants may suffer shortage in alkaline or calcareous soils
Iron deficiency
-interveinal chlorosis on new leaves
Manganese
-metallic trace element
-formation of chlorophyll, speeds seed germination, crop maturing, helps plant take up other nutrients
Managese deficiency
-dwarfing
-interveinal chlorosis on young leaves
Copper
-metallic trace element
-chlorophyll and lignin, disease resistance, moisture control
Copper deficiency
-inhibit pollen formation
-lower fruit yield
Zinc
-metallic trace element
-chlorophyll and protein production
-synthesize plant growth hormone
Zinc deficiency
-tight growth of small leaves
-interveinal chlorosis
Chlorine
-anionic trace element
-found everywhere and water soluble
Chlorine deficiency
-rare but more common in palms
Boron
-anionic trace element
-cell wall and membrane integrity