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