Plant nutrient deficiency chart
Plants grown commercially need key nutrients to grow optimally. If a plant is lacking a certain nutrient, you’ll start to see the specific nutrient deficiency symptoms. We’ve put together a chart to help you identify which nutrients your plants may be lacking.
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15 Essential Nutrients That Plants Need
Essential Nutrients
- Carbon (C)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Oxygen (O)
Plants obtain these essential nutrients from water, air and sunlight, to make food for growth.
Macronutrients
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Sulphur (S)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Magnesium (Mg)
These nutrients are required by plants in relatively large amounts.
Micronutrients
- Copper (Cu)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Iron (Fe)
- Boron (B)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
These nutrients are required by plants in smaller quantities.
What Is Nutrient Deficiency?
Plants can suffer from malnutrition if they are not getting what they need. Nutrient deficiency occurs when a plant lacks an essential nutrient required for growth. Without sufficient essential nutrients, plants will not thrive and present various symptoms to express the deficiency.
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Essential Plant Nutrients And Their Deficiency Symptoms
We've put together this helpful plant nutrient deficiency chart of essential plant nutrients and their deficiency symptoms to help you identify common macronutrients and micronutrients that your plants may be lacking.
Boron Deficiency
Result:
- Discolouration of leaf buds
- Breaking and dropping of buds
Sulphur Deficiency
Result:
- Discolouration of leaf buds
- Breaking and dropping of buds
Manganese Deficiency
Result:
- Leaves are a pale colour
- Veins and venules dark green and reticulated
Zinc Deficiency
Result:
- Leave are pale and narrow
- Short veins are dark green
- Dark spots on leaves and edges
Iron Deficiency
Result:
- Leaves are pale
- No spots
- Major veins are green
Copper Deficiency
Result:
- Pale pink between the veins
- Wilt and drop
Molybdenum Deficiency
Result:
- Leaves go light green/lemon/yellow/orange
- Spots on whole leaf except veins
- Sticky secretions from under the leaf
Magnesium Deficiency
Result:
- Paleness from leaf edges
- No spots
- Edges have cup shaped folds
- Leaves die and drop in extreme deficiency
Phosphorus Deficiency
Result:
- Plant short and dark green
- Extreme deficiencies turn brown or black
- Bronze colour under the leaf
Nitrogen Deficiency
Result:
- Stunted growth
- Extremely pale colour
- Upright leaves with light green/yellowish colour
- Appear burnt in extreme deficiency
Potassium Deficiency
Result:
- Small spots on the tips
- Pale edges
- Spots turn rusty
- Tips start to fold
How To Prevent Nutrient Deficiency In Plants
Applying more fertiliser doesn’t necessarily result in a healthier crop and a greater yield. Rather, farmers should seek to support nature’s delicate balance by applying the right fertiliser, in the right amounts at the right time.
Zylem facilitates the supply of a variety of agricultural inputs, including our own range of biological soil conditioners and foliar feeds, to address and prevent nutrient deficiencies in plants. Developed over ten years, our soil nutrition and foliar feed products encourage sustainable activity and assist with regenerative agriculture. The products are available anywhere in South Africa.
Infographic Showing Symptoms Of Nutrient Deficiencies In Plants
