Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies (II)
3. Symptoms
We went on the symptoms and how to address the problem. The process is:
1. We see a plant with symptoms that something is wrong, for example, the leaves are seen yellow, grows a little, etc. ..
2. It can be for a lack of nutrients or may be any other evil, as overwatering, fungal attack, too saline substrate, which is going thirsty, etc., Etc. Therefore, the first step is to determine whether it is a shortage or not.
In general, symptoms of deficiencies are distinguished from other damage (eg, viruses, insect attack, fungus, burns poorly performed treatment, etc.) That often appear as a symmetrical arrangement of the leaves.
3. Analyzing the situation, suppose you suspect a nutrient deficiency. Now two questions arise:
What is particular element? The yellow color on a sheet can be a symptom of nitrogen deficiency, Iron, Manganese, Zinc … to 13. Which one is it? If you think it’s iron and provide a fertilizer rich in iron to correct but is actually the lack of nitrogen, you have not solved anything. It is common to consider all the chlorosis and chlorosis, and therefore not all applications are efficient. You have to key in the determination.
“The need is for a single item or are several at the same time? Sometimes there may be more of a deficiency at a time, which complicates the diagnosis, making it almost impossible to recognize.
I must say that although each of these elements specific symptoms, to recognize the symptoms of deficiency is not easy, as will the study item by item.
You need to have seen many cases previously. An interesting exercise I recommend is to look at your plants often, in other gardens, public parks, etc. and when you see changes in leaves, try to find out if that is a mineral deficiency or not, and if so, what nutrient.
4. The most reliable diagnosis is to take a leaf sample to a specialized laboratory to make leaf analysis and soil sample for soil analysis. This particular gardening is not usually done, but in modern agronomy is common, particularly for greenhouse crops and fruit trees.
5. The leaf analysis detected a disproportionate element and soil analysis provides data to suspect a deficiency or another. For example, if the soil test, one of the parameters analyzed, the pH, it goes too high or too low, no risk of shortages. Or if the analysis says the soil is poor in phosphorus or potassium or magnesium or there is discrepancy between them, they are highly relevant data in this regard.
6. There are plants more likely than others to chlorosis. For example: Camellia, Hibiscus, Nandina, Tecomaria, wisteria, cyclamen, etc.. This will be a good clue. That is, if we know the Gardenia is very susceptible to iron chlorosis, when we see yellowing leaves, it should think about this problem before in any other. The fruit are very susceptible to almost all micronutrients.
7. If you are new leaves and shoots, we think of micronutrients: Iron, Copper, Zinc, Manganese. They all expressed in young leaves yellowish stains. Copper is the most difficult to diagnose.
8. If you are older leaves (bottom), we think of Macronutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium.
9. Look at the plants nearby if also show symptoms or not, because they share the same soil.
10. Find the pH of the soil or, at least in the case of a calcareous soil or not. This fact is very important as we shall see. The methods for determining the pH of you here.
Knowing the soil pH provides an important clue. For example, in Spain there are many deficiencies of micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum) because much of the soils are alkaline (limestone).
Both high and low pH can cause deficiency or excess toxicities.
—- PH lower than 5.5 is very acidic
—- PH between 5.6 and 6.5 is acidic
—- PH between 6.6 and 7.5 is neutral
—- PH between 7.6 and 8.5 is alkaline
—- PH greater than 8.5 is alkaline
a) If the soil is acidic (low pH, less than 6.5)
In Spain, Galicia and Extremadura, for example, are regions which abound in nature geological acid soils. These soils are ideal for acid loving plants like azalea, Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Camellia, Heather, Gardenia, etc. .. An acid soil is the problem of scarce nutrients:
Deficiencies
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus (to form insoluble combinations with iron and aluminum)
- Molybdenum
- Boron
If it is suspected that the plants are suffering shortages of these elements, should be contributed through fertilizer and try to raise the pH by adding ground limestone. This is called a whitewash.
PH 5.5 or lower, should warn us to deficiencies of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Molybdenum and Boron. Also may cause toxicities of Manganese, Zinc, Aluminum and Iron.
b) If the soil is neutral (pH between 6.6 and 7.5)
There is an optimal availability of all nutrients that plants need usually in regard to pH. But even so, there may be gaps if the soil is poor in nutrients, but the pH is favorable.
c) If the soil is basic or alkaline (pH greater than 7.5)
Here there are often many problems. It is relatively common. Acidophilic plants mentioned above did not go well almost certainly, the leaves will yellow and few flowers. This is because in alkaline soils are blocked several essential elements for any plant.
Deficiencies
· Iron
· Manganese
· Zinc
· Charge
· Phosphorus
· Boro
But not only acidophilic (Hydrangea, Heather, Gardenia, etc.), But many plants can acknowledge these deficiencies of iron, manganese, etc. .. For example, an orange, a lemon tree, a hibiscus, a Rosal, etc., Etc. ..
What if shortfalls occur by alkaline (chalky soil)? The detailed solution is in your next page, but in summary is:
Provide fertilizer in the form of chelates containing the nutrients that are lacking: Iron, Zinc, Potassium, Manganese, etc. ..
Lowering the soil pH or substrate.
Lowering the pH of irrigation water (if you’re watering also one that is alkaline, containing much lime).
11. Another fact on the ground that gives clues regarding the shortcomings is the texture. The sandy-textured soils are poorer than those of clay, because they suffer a greater leaching of nutrients from rain and irrigation, and therefore tend to be more gaps in sandy than in clay.
Extreme example of sandy soil is the sandy beach. It has all the elements, the proof is that plants grow in the dunes, however, in very little quantity, enough for most garden plants except cacti, succulents, and some other specialty.
12. A soil rich in organic matter (humus) contain more nitrogen than one with a low humus content.
Humus provides mineral nutrients slowly to plants as it is decomposed by soil microorganisms, especially nitrogen, also phosphorus, potassium, etc. ..
The same example of before: the sand of the beach is very poor in humus and, therefore, is poor in nitrogen.
13. Depth. Deep soils are richer. Soils may be shallow hard rock is not traversable by the roots (eg at 40 cm.), This is very bad, obviously.
If the bedrock is less than 80 cm. deep, says that soil is not deep. If you are more than 80 cm. speak of a deep soil.
That is, if your soil is shallow, the more likely that another gap that is not because the roots have less volume of earth to extract food.
Views the causes of deficiencies and symptoms for assessment in general:
1. The essential chemical elements
2. Causes of gaps
3. General symptoms of deficiencies
4. Solutions to shortcomings
5. Symptoms, causes and solutions for Element
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Sulfur (S) – Iron (Fe)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Boron (B)
- Copper (Cu)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
- Chlorine (Cl)
Source: http://articulos.infojardin.com/articulos/carencias-nutrientes-minerales.htm
image source: http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000TGQ76j43sX8/s