Plant Nutri+on: Sherlock Holmes Style Brian A. Krug, Ph.D. University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension PRACTICE PROCESS CAUSES SYMPTOMS SYMPTOMS Iden+fying Nutrient Deficiencies Recognizing nutrient deficiency symptoms Mobile elements (N,P,K, Mg) Partially mobile elements (S, Mo) Immobile elements (Fe, Mn, B, Ca, B, Zn, Cu) Vocabulary Mobile Element Vocabulary Immobile Element Vocabulary Chlorosis Vocabulary Necrosis Flower Deformity 1
Leaf Distor+on Speckling/Flecking We are going to use a dichotomous key. Start by asking the right ques+ons. Are you really dealing with a nutrient deficiency? Are You Looking at a Nutrient Deficiency? Look for patterns or lack of patterns Insect or disease (biotic) = typically no pattern Nutritional disorder or other environmental problem (abiotic) = consistent pattern Is it a nutrient deficiency? Look for patterns (or lack of patterns) 2
Start by asking the right ques+ons. Where Do You See the Symptoms? Mobile Nutrient Are you really dealing with a nutrient deficiency? Where do you see symptoms? Base of plant mobile symptoms at base Where Do You See the Symptoms? Immobile Nutrient Where Do You See the Symptoms? Base of plant mobile Top of plant immobile Symptoms at top Base of plant mobile Top of plant immobile Whole (mid) plant partially mobile 3
Par$ally Mobile Symptoms evenly distributed or in mid- section Start by asking the right ques+ons. Are you really dealing with a nutrient deficiency? Where do you see symptoms? What symptoms are you seeing? Iden+fying Nutrient Deficiencies Recognizing nutrient deficiency symptoms Mobile elements (N,P,K, Mg) Partially mobile elements (S, Mo) Immobile elements (Fe, Mn, B, Ca, B, Zn, Cu) Nutrient Deficiencies Mobile (N, P, K, Mg) Mobile (at base) N, P, K, Mg Chlorosis is main early symptom N or P Nitrogen vs. Phosphorus Uniform Chlorosis lower leaves N then necrosis on older leaves Stunting Early flowering Possible red color Leaf abscission Nitrogen vs. Phosphorus Uniform Chlorosis lower leaves N then necrosis on older leaves Stunting Early flowering Possible red color Leaf abscission P Deep green foliage Severe stunting Chlorosis then necrosis old leaves Possible purpling Roots longer & fewer Nitrogen vs. Phosphorus Uniform Chlorosis lower leaves N then necrosis on older leaves Stunting Early flowering Possible red color Leaf abscission P Deep green foliage Severe stunting Chlorosis then necrosis old leaves Possible purpling Roots longer & fewer N Deficiency Uniform Chlorosis Followed by Necrosis 4
N Deficiency Early Flowering Severe Stunting Nitrogen vs. Phosphorus Uniform Chlorosis Lower Leaves N then necrosis on older leaves Severe Stunting Early flowering Possible red color Leaf abscission P Deep green foliage Severe stunting Chlorosis then necrosis old leaves Possible purpling Roots longer & fewer Phosphorus Deficiency Compact Plants Deep Green Coloration P Deficiency Lower Leaf Chlorosis and Purpling P Deficiency Longer, but Fewer Roots Mobile (at base) N, P, K, Mg Chlorosis is main early symptom N or P Interveinal chlorosis Mg Magnesium - Mobile (symptoms originate at the base) Interveinal chlorosis on older leaves Mg Deficiency Interveinal Chlorosis Older Leaves Mg Deficiency Interveinal Chlorosis Necrosis of older leaves Slide #7 beans Possible red on older leaves 5
Mobile (at base) N, P, K, Mg Chlorosis is main early symptom N or P Interveinal chlorosis Mg Necrosis rapid K 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. K Deficiency Necrosis K Deficiency Necro+c Spo[ng Nutrient Deficiencies Sulfur - Par+ally Mobile (symptoms originate throughout en+re plant) Uniform chlorosis on entire plant (may be more so at top or bottom of plant) Necrosis poinsettia pepper Partially mobile (S and Mo) Faded flower colors Leaves and/or internodes may develop red pigmentation S Deficiency S Deficiency S Deficiency Chlorosis and Necrosis of Young Leaves Necrosis nemesia Chlorosis of Stem and Leaves, Flowers Faded and Necrotic 6
Molybdenum - Par+ally Mobile (First case: symptom originate in mid- plant leaves) Ornamentals: only seen in poinsettia Clear chlorotic band around leaf margin Necrosis rapidly follows chlorosis inward from leaf margin Mo Deficiency Nutrient Deficiencies Non Mobile (Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B) Immobile Nutrients at top Chlorosis Fe or Mn Necrosis and Distortion Ca or B Young and Recently Mature Leaves Affected Cu or Zn Immobile Nutrients at top Chlorosis Fe or Mn Chlorosis Interveinal, uniform or margial on young leaves Fe Chlorosis - - - - - - Chlorosis clears to yellow to white Necrosis Mn Chlorosis - - - - - - Tan Flecking Iron Deficiency Interveinal Chlorosis of Young Leaves Mn Deficiency Immobile Nutrients at top Chlorosis Fe or Mn Tan Flecking Necrosis and Distortion Ca or B 7
Necrosis and Distor+on Ca B Distortion, necrosis, chlorosis Distortion, necrosis, chlorosis Incomplete flower formation Incomplete flower formation Roots short, densely branched, & thick Roots short, densely branched, & thick Calcium Deficiency Distortion, Chlorosis, Necrosis of Young Leaves Calcium Deficiency Argyranthemum - - - - - - - - - Short internodes rosetting Thick leaves, corking Abortion, branching Incomplete Flower Development Bracteantha Calcium Deficiency Tissue Breakdown Blossom End Rot - Tomato Calcium Deficiency Primary and Secondary Roots Shorter Necrosis and Distor+on Ca B Distortion, necrosis, chlorosis Distortion, necrosis,(chlorosis) Incomplete flower formation Incomplete flower formation Roots short, densely branched, & thick Roots short, densely branched, & thick - - - - - - - - - Short internodes rosetting Thick leaves, corking Abortion, branching Cork Spot - Apple Boron Deficiency Incomplete Petal Formation Boron Deficiency Incomplete Flower Stem Formation Boron Deficiency Rose`ed and Distorted Shoot Tips 8
Boron Deficiency Corking of Leaf and Petiole Tissue Boron Deficiency Roots shorter, fewer, thicker, and highly branched. Immobile Nutrients at top Chlorosis Fe or Mn Necrosis and Distortion Ca or B Young and Recently Mature Leaves Affected Cu or Zn Young and Recently Mature Leaves Young and Recently Mature Leaves Affected Cu Deficiency Young Leaves Roll and Curl Copper Deficiency 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 - - - - - - - - Lighter colored, smaller, aborted flowers. Photos: Copper Deficiency No flowering Copper Deficiency Recently mature leaves die suddenly, leaving larger leaves above and below. Young and Recently Mature Leaves 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 - - - - - - - - 9
Zinc Deficiency Curling and Chlorosis of Young Leaves Zinc Deficiency Young Leaves Small and Short Internodes. Deficiency Pictures www.amazon.com Insects Questions? CAUSES NC STATE UNIVERSITY SYMPTOMS Disease Water Water Water Alkalinity Amount of carbonates and bicarbonates Water ph Measure of H+ ions in your water Water ph has very little affect on substrate ph Check your water alkalinity regularly 10
Temperature Substrate Fertilizer Missing element? Antagonism Excessive Potassium Calcium Deficiency Excessive Nitrate Calcium Deficiency Excessive Calcium Magnesium Deficiency Potentially acidic Potentially basic K:Ca:Mg 4:2:1 ph and E.C. Injector calibration Substrate ph Substrate E.C. Insects Disease Water Temperature Fertilizers ph and E.C. PROCESS CAUSES SYMPTOMS ph and EC Look at the roots Fertilizer injector PourThru 2:1 Method SME 11
Fertilizer Weather Substrate Watering Watering PRACTICE PROCESS CAUSES SYMPTOMS Questions? 12