Agriculture :: Mineral Nutrition :: Introduction

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Plant Nutrition :: Mineral Nutrition

Soil Water DIAGNOSING PLANT DISORDERS Table 1. Foliage plant malady symptoms and possible causal agents Dryland Agriculture Watershed Management Disaster Management Integrated Farming Organic Farming Green Manuring Mineral Nutrition Plant Growth Regulators Yield Improvement Tips

Plant part affected and symptoms

Possible cause

Drought Flood Salinity Temperature

Foliage Chlorosis (general) Low soil fertility Excessively high light intensity Excessively high temperatures Inadequate supply of iron or manganese and possibly copper or zinc Plants excluded from light for extended period phytotoxicity from pesticides Low nitrogen or potassium supply High soil salinity Over watering Poorly aerated soil mix Low magnesium and potassium supply (primarily lower leaves) High soil salinity Cold drifts (primarily lower leaves) Spider mite feeding injury (primarily lower leaves) Phytotoxicity from pesticides Deficiency of iron or manganese (upper leaves affected first) Spider mite feeding injury Sulfur dioxide air pollution injury Phytotoxicity from pesticides Injury from certain herbicides Fungal or bacterial spots Phytotoxicity from pesticide, fertilizer or pollutant Cold water injury Fungal or bacterial leaf spots Virus or virus like infection Phytotoxicity from pesticides, fertilizers, or pollutants.

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Chlorosis (younger leaves)

Crop Planning Cropping Pattern Microclimate Temperature Wind Rainfall Solar Radiation Relative Humidity

Chlorosis (older leaves)

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Marginal chlorosis

Interveinal chlorosis

Veinal chlorosis Round chlorotic spots

Irregular, chlorotic spots

Striped, chlorotic pattern not associated specifically withFeeding injury from spider mites, plant hoppers, leafhoppers, veins or interveinal areas or trips Mosaic, chlorotic pattern Cold water injury of some plants Virus or virus like infection Phtotoxicity from pesticides

Sectors of leaves that appear water soaked or have aEarly stages of high temperature injury often associated greasy color with high light intensity or high temperatures which plants are subjected to when improperly handled during shipment. Early stages of cold injury from either low air temperatures or very cold water dropping onto foliage Certain foliar diseases caused bacterial or fungal pathogens Foliar nematodes in fleshy tissue Early stages of phytotoxicity from improper use of pesticides or fertilizers Necrosis of leaf margin or tip Nutrient deficiency: potassium (lower leaves first) Boron excess High soil salinity Fluoride phytotoxicity of susceptible plants

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High temperature injury Low temperature injury Desiccation injury Low relative humidity, particularly indoors Spider mite feeding injury Foliar bacterial diseases Phytotoxicity from pesticides or fertilizers. Necrotic spots or sectors within the lamina Cold water injury Leaf miner feeding injury Leaf spot diseases fungal and bacterial Foliar nematode feeding injury Phytotoxicity from pesticides or fertilizers. Sun scorch Cold injury from low air temperatures or very cold water Foliar diseases and injury from several foliar feeding pests Air pollution injury Phytotoxicity from pesticides or fertilizers Plants received a high level of nutrition Plants grown under moderate to low light intensity Stock plants not harvested frequently enough Old specimens with large root system Plants grown under low nutritional program Lack of copper, which occurs first in new leaves and may be associated with some chlorosis High soil Salinity Plants grown under excessively high light intensity Low light and low humidity. Container-grown plants that become root-bound Root mealy bugs or nematodes Root diseases Phytotoxicity from certain pesticides Tarsonemid mite injury Petiole (leaf stem too long Petiole very short Lamina (leaf blade long and narrow Lamina short lamina very thin Lamina extremely thick Low light intensity High Light intensity Low light intensity High light intensity High nitrogen nutrition Low light intensity Virus or virus like disease Phytotoxicity form pesticide s High light intensity Tarsonemid mites Mechanical injury to developing or fully expanded leaves Fluctuating moisture supply Injury from board mites, cyclamen mites, etc.

Combination of marginal and internal necrotic areas

Leaves abnormally large

Leaves abnormally small

Splitting of lamina along margins

Abnormally tight rosette pattern of new foliage

Loss of sinuses or holes in new foliage of split leafReduced light intensity, especially once the plants are placed plants indoors Leaf margins notched Mechanical injury Injury from chewing insects Phytotoxicity from pesticide sprays Leaf miner feeding injury Mechanical injury Feeding injury from caterpillars, snails, or slugs / Dead areas that drop from leaf after tissue is killed by foliar pathogens Phytotoxicity from pesticides Abnormally glossy leaf surface Excessive amount of plant polish or plant shine product applied to leaf surface

Translucent tunnel pattern in foliage Holes in foliage

Solution dripping from edges of foliage that is otherwise Guttation : the loss of water from tiny holes that are present dry along the leaf margin Guttation occurs at night and early morning and is non injurious physiological process Defoliation of plant High soil salinity Plants moved from high to low light intensity Prolonged period in shipping container without light or gas exchange Chilling injury Excessive desiccation between irrigation periods Reduced humidity Poor soil aeration Injurious soil insects

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Foliage injury from mite feeding Parasitic nematodes Root rot pathogens Air pollution, especially elevated Phytotoxicity from pesticides Stems stunted

levels

of

ethelene

Lack of nutrient such as boron. or crop injury from certain mites, including broad mite and cyclamen mite Phytotoxicity from pesticides Insufficient light in growing area Close plant spacing

Few lateral branches on plants that naturally branch freelyInsufficient light in growing area Close plant spacing Fascinated stems Genetic Variation Virus or virus like disorders Herbicide injury High soil salinity Slow-release fertilizer placed against stems Excessive irrigation Poorly drained soils Fungus gnat infestation Fungal pathogen infection Bacterial pathogen infection Phytotoxicity from pesticides Sun scald Mechanical injury Pest feeding injury Fungal infection Bacterial infection High soil salinity High leaf temperature and cool soil Excessively high temperature Insufficient water supply in soil Low humidity Cuttings or plants not rooted adequately Roots that developed outside of container were severed Root mealybugs or parasitic nematodes Reduced root size from fungal root pathogens Mechanical injury Excessively high temperature Phytotoxicity from pesticides

Basal stem rot or breakdown

Lesions or cankers on stem

Foliage and / or stems wilted

Cracked leaf and / or surface Etched or pitted leaf and / or surface

Thin cork layer (tan or brown), which develops on leavesThrips or false spider mite feeding injury and stems as spots or streaks Certain plant pathogens Phytotoxicity from pesticides Tip dieback or blight Deficiency of calcium, copper. or boron Desiccation injury Mites such as broad mite and cyclamen mite Fungal infection Phytotoxicity from pesticides Aphid feeding injury Virus or virus like diseases Phytotoxicity from pesticides, particularly some herbicides A phototropic response to side lighting

Epinasty of young shoot and leaves

Stems and leaves bent or oriented to one side

Bud and flower drop on some foliage plants with flowers Temperature extremes Plant moisture stress Low humidity Reduced root system from numerous causes Mechanical injury Ethylene injury Phytotoxicity from pesticides Stems exceedingly thing weak, wide spacing betweenExcessive fertilizer leaves Inadequate light Tight spacing of plants Temperature too high Stem thicker than normal and leaf spacing usually veryHigh light intensity close Wide plant spacing air turbulence Unusual amount of red pigment Phosphorus deficiency Cool temperatures Root rot pathogens Nematodes or root mealy bugs Segregation of vegetative tissues in a chimeral plant Mutation in meristematic region resulting in a Chimera

Development of a new color pattern

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Loss of variegation

Excess fertilizer Low light intensity in production or holding areas Excess photoperiod indoors Leaf aging in some plants Segregation of vegetative tissues in a chimeral plant Molted skins or empty puga cases form certain insects or mites Calcium, magnesium, and sodium compounds found in some water supplies, which leave an objectional deposit on foliage Some fertilizer materials that contribute to deposits on the foliage Residue from certain pesticides, particularly we table powder formulations of a given com pound are preferred for appearance when safe Airborne particulate material adhering to plant Fecal deposits from pests High iron content in water used for overhead irrigation Heavy false spider mite infestation Spider mites and a few other mite species

Small, translucent artifacts from living creatures

Whitish to darker colored residue on surface of plant

Small inanimate bodies on Brown to rusty red film on foliage

Fine webbing on leaf or between leaflets Roots Roots very shallow; fail to penetrate deep into the soil

Excessive bottom heat Soil kept too wet Soil mix texture very fine with few large pore spaces Soil mix compacted excessively Soil infested with root rotting fungi, parasitic nematodes, or other root infesting pests Inadequate quantity of soil added to container at time of potting Soil washed out by splashing water Excessive soil-mix shrinkage in certain mixes Poor soil aeration Development of extensive root systems in some species, which push the plants upward in the container

Root system slow to develop

Factors listed as causing the previous problem plus: High soil salinity Soil temperature extremes Plant potted too deep Toxic components in soil mixture (e.g., certain types of bark) Phytotoxicity from pesticide drenches Snail or slug feeding damage High soil salinity Soil kept too wet Soil-mix texture very fine with few spaces Soil mix compacted excessively Parasitic nematodes Root-rot pathogens, usually fungi Plant container placed on moist medium that supports root growth Plant left in production area or retail display too long Root-knot nematode injury Tuberous roots that develop naturally on some plant Plants not sold on schedule or not stepped up top a larger container Non injurious saprophytic fungi

Portions of exposed roots eaten Roots rots

Roots develop extensively through bottom of container

Knots or swollen areas on roots

Excessive root system tightly bound in containers

White or gray fuzzy masses on roots Whole plant Tissue torn or shed

Mechanical injury during growing, handling packing or shipping. High soil salinity Injurious soil insects Parasitic nematodes Fungal root rots Phytotoxicity from pesticides

Shrinkage of leaf, stem or root tissues

Reduced rate of growth without drastic changes in typical One or more essential elements in limited supply Excessive plant characteristics soil salinity Soil pH extremes Extremely low light levels, usually indoors Temperature extremes Excessive soil moisture Poor soil aeration Poorly drained container Low humidity

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Seedling variation in some plants Pot-bound root system Presence of plant pathogens or other pests that affect the root system or vascular system Phytotoxicity from pesticides

Seeds
Seed fail to germinate Nonviable seeds Seeds harvested prematurely Seeds stored for excessive periods Seeds stored at improper temperature or humidity High salinity of germination medium Germination medium dried during germination Destruction of seeds prior to emergence by rodents, insects, or plant pathogens Insufficient time for germination Impermeable seed coat Chemical inhibitors in seed Germination medium temperature too low Poor soil aeration High salinity of germination medium Fungal stem and root rot pathogens High salinity of germination medium Fungal stem and root rot pathogens Genetic seedlings common to certain species

Seedlings Damping off

Some seedlings are white

Correction of nutrient disorder After having diagnosed a nutrient disorder, the next step is to correct it in order to improve crop production. Methods of correcting nutrient deficiencies or toxicities vary according to agro climatic regions, the socioeconomic situation of the region, the magnitude of the disorder, and the nutrient or element involved. Use of efficient or tolerant cultivars in combination with fertilizers or amendments may be the best solution for correcting nutrient disorders in field crops. Soil testing, plant analyses, visual foliar symptoms and crop growth response are the most common guides to the fertilization of field crops. Among these diagnostic techniques visual symptoms are the least expensive, but soil analysis is widely used for soil fertility evaluation. Quantities of fertilizer and lime are determined on the basis of soil test calibration studies for each crop. Table 2. Methods of correcting nutrient deficiencies
Nutrient / element Corrective measures N Addition of organic matter to the soil; Application of N fertilizers, including legumes in the crop rotation; use of foliar spray of 0.25to 0.5% solution of urea. Adjustment of extreme pH: application of phosphorus fertilizer Application of potassium fertilizers, incorporation of crop residues Liming of acid soils; addition of gypsum Application of dolomite limestone; foliar application of 2% magnesium sulfate solution Use of fertilizer salt containing sulfur such as ammonium sulfate and single super phosphate; application of gypsum or elemental sulfur Addition of zinc sulfate to soil; foliar spray of 0.1to 0.5% solution of zinc sulfate Foliar spray of 2% iron sulfate or 0.02 to 0.05% solution of iron chelate ; use of efficient cultivars Soil application of boron or foliar spray of 0.1 to 0.25% solution of borax Liming of acid soils, soil application of sodium or ammonium molybdate . Al/Mn Applications of lime; use of tolerant species or cultivars.

P K Ca Mg S

Zn Cu

B Mo

Table 3. Tolerance of plant foliage to Mineral nutrient sprays

Nutrient Nitrogen Formulation or salt Urea NH4 NO3, (NH4)2 HPO4, (NH4)2 SO4 NH4Cl, NH4 PO4 H3PO4, others see N above KNO3, K2,So4, KCI CaCl2, Ca (NO3)2 MgSO4 Kg per 400 L* of water 3 -5

Phosphorus Potassium Calcium Magnesium

2-3 2-3 1.5-2.5 3-5

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Iron Manganese Zinc Boron Molybdenum

FeSO4 MnSO4 ZnSO4 Sodium borate Sodium molybdate

3-6 3-12 2-12 2-3 0.1-0.15

* 400 L of solution is sufficient to spray on 1 ha of filed crop In a given agro climatic region,one of the greatest values of tissue analysis is in the prevention of deficiencies rather than their correction after they appear. Soil analysis, Plant analysis, and visual symptoms are all useful and complementary in nutritional diagnosis of crop plants. These techniques provide information for evaluating the nutrient status of the soil plant environment and for establishing the basis for fertilizer and lime applications.

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