Plant Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

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Diagnosing nutrient deficiency symptoms is most reliable when all other factors than the nutrient in question favor normal plant growth and when the symptoms occur on several plants in an area following a specific soil or management pattern.

General description of plant nutrient deficiency symptoms:
    Chlorosis                                     Yellowing of leaves
    Interveinal chlorosis - striping        Leaf tissue between veins turns yellow while the veins remain green
    Necrosis                                      Complete drying and death of plant tissue
    Stunting                                        Shortened internodes
    Abnormal coloration                     Red, purple, brown colors caused by pigments

Mobility of nutrients in plants
    Mobile nutrients can be translocated from old tissue (bottom of the plant) to new tissue (top of the plant).  Deficiency symptoms occur on lower, older leaves.  Nutrients that are mobile in plants are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg).
    Immobile nutrients are not easily translocated in plants.  Deficiency symptoms occur on upper, new leaves.  Nutrients that are immobile in plants are boron (B), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), sulfur (S), and zinc (Zn).

Possible causes of nutrient deficiencies:
1)    Insufficient amount of available nutrient in soil.  The chemical characteristics of soil may reduce availability of nutrients.
2)    The nutrient is positionally unavailable.
3)    Underdeveloped root system which may be due to cool, wet, dry, or compacted soil.
4)    Root injury due to mechanical, insect, disease, or herbicide injury.
5)    Genetics of the plant.

When diagnosing nutrient deficiencies:
    describe what the symptom looks like,
    note the location of the symptom on the plant, and
    obtain soil information:  soil pH, organic matter, soil test values, soil texture

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Nitrogen Deficiency; Phosphorus Deficiency; Potassium Deficiency;
Calcium Deficiency; Magnesium Deficiency; Sulfur Deficiency; Zinc Deficiency;
Iron Deficiency; Manganese Deficiency; Boron Deficiency; Molybdenum Deficiency
 

Nitrogen Deficiency on corn

N deficiency is a chlorosis of the older leaves that
begins at the tip of the leaf and proceeds down the
midrib.
 
 
 
 
As the deficiency becomes more intense leaves
higher, and higher on the plant are affected.
 
 
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Phosphorus Deficiency on Corn
P deficiency is characterized by dark green plants
and purplish leaves.  The purple color is due to
anthocyanin.
 
 
 
 
P deficient plants are typically "spindly."  Because
of the marked effect that P deficiency has on retarding
overall growth, striking foliar symptoms that are evidence
of deficiency in certain other nutrients, for example N
and K, are seldom observed.
 
 
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Potassium Deficiency on Corn
Potassium deficiency is chlorosis of the lower, older
leaves that begins at the leaf tip and proceeds down
the leaf margins.
 
 
 
 
As the severity of K deficiency increases the
symptoms proceed up the affected plants.
 
 
 
 
 
Note that the upper leaves remain a deep green.  This is
a good example of a nutrient that is mobile in the plant.
 
 
 
 
Potassium Deficiency on Soybean
 
Potassium deficiency symptoms on soybean are chlorosis
of the leaf edges of older, lower leaves.
 
 
 
 
As with corn, as the severity of the deficiency increases
the symptoms progress up the plant to newer leaves.
 
 
 
 
 
Potassium Deficiency on Alfalfa
 
Potassium deficiency symptoms on alfalfa are white
spots on the edges of lower, older leaves.
 
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Calcium Deficiency
 
 
Calcium deficiency symptoms on corn are a failure
of the leaf tips to separate from the whorl.  This is
often called "laddering".
 
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 Magnesium Deficiency
 
 
 
Magnesium deficiency is interveinal chlorosis on the
lower, older leaves.
 
 
 
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 Sulfur Deficiency
 
 
 
Sulfur deficiency results in small, light green corn plants.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sulfur deficiency on alfalfa is exhibited as small,
light green plants.
 
 
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 Zinc Deficiency
 
 
 
Zinc deficiency occurs on the upper, new leaves and
can be either interveinal chlorosis or a band of chlorotic
tissue between the leaf edge and the midrib.  The symptoms
begin at the leaf base and expand toward the leaf tip.
 
 
 
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Iron Deficiency
 
 
 
Iron deficiency symptoms are interveinal chlorosis
of the upper, new corn leaves.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Iron deficiency symptoms on soybean are interveinal
chlorosis of the upper, new leaves.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Iron deficiency of soybean associated with high pH,
pothole soils of north central Iowa
 
 
 
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 Manganese Deficiency
 
 
 
Manganese deficiency is interveinal chlorosis of the
upper, new leaves of corn.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manganese deficiency of soybean is interveinal chlorosis
of the upper, new leaves.  Manganese and iron deficiency
symptoms are difficult if not impossible to tell apart.
 
 
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 Boron Deficiency
 
 
 
Boron deficiency on corn leaves.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boron toxicity on corn.  The difference between
adequate Boron and too much is very small and
plants are very sensitive to Boron.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boron deficiency on alfalfa occurs on the upper, new
leaves.  From a distance leaf hopper feeding symptoms
look similar.  It is necessary to closely examine the plants
to be sure what is causing the symptom.
 
 
 
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 Molybdenum Deficiency
 
 
 
Molybdenum deficiency looks like a slight N deficiency
because Mo is involved in N fixation.
 
 
 
These images were collected from members of the North Central Regional Committee on Non-convential Soil Additives.  They were compiled by Dr. R.D. Voss, Iowa State University.
 
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