Nutrient Imbalance
Key Facts & Symptoms of Micro nutrient Deficiency
Essential elements which plants need in relatively small amounts are called Micro-nutrients.
The Micro-nutrients are Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Boron, Copper, Chlorine,Molybdenum, and Nickel. Composting organic matter such as grass clippings and tree leaves is an excellent way to provide micro-nutrients.
Iron (Fe)
Key Facts
- Required for formation of chlorophyll in plant cells. Essential for respiration
Deficiency Symptoms
- Twig dieback
- Reduced growth and death in severe
- Yellow-green colour, but veins remain green
Treatment – See Table 1
Manganese (Mn)
Key Facts
- Vital for photosynthesis and respiration.
- Assists iron in chlorophyll formation and serves as activator for enzymes in growth process.
- Deficiency is common on alkaline soils
Deficiency Symptoms
- Poor root development
- Reduced photosynthetic efficiency
- Interveinal chlorosis and mottling of leaves
- Yellow-green color of young leaves, but no sharp distinction between veins and interveinal areas as with iron.
Treatment – See Table 1
Zinc (Zn)
- Involved with the production of growth hormones
- Necessary for starch formation and proper root development
- Constituent in several plant enzymes
- Yellowing of leaves
- Decrease in stem length
- Twig Die-back after first year
- Reduced fruit bud formation
- Rosetting of terminal leaves
- Changes to leaf morphology
Boron
- Regulates metabolism of carbohydrates in plants.
- Critical for new growth in plants
- Assists in flower pollination, fertilization, fruit set
Deficiency Symptoms
- Poor growth
- Reduced crop quality
- Death of terminal growth
- Thickened, curled, wilted leaves
- Poor fruit and flower set / development
Treatment – See Table 1
Copper (Cu)
Key Facts
- Essential for fertilization
- Important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
- Important in lignin formation and structural integrity of plants
- Contributes to flavour and sugar content and intensifies colour
Deficiency Symptoms
- Wilting
- Stunted growth
- Death of leaf tips
- Distortion of leaves
- Dieback of terminal shoots in trees
Treatment – See Table 1
Treatment
The chief sources of micronutrients available in organic matters include FYM, compost, dungs of various animals, poultry manure, green manure and crop residues in farm fields. Content of total micronutrients in some organic sources are given in Table 1
Table 1
Micronutrient Contents of various Organic Matter – Dr S.K.Sahu & Dr P.K.Samant, Dept of Soil Science & Agriculture Chem, Bhubaneswar
|
S.No |
Organics |
Micronutrient mg /kg |
||||
|
Fe |
Zn |
Mn |
Cu |
B |
||
|
1 |
City Compost |
7000 |
400 |
560 |
150 |
15 |
|
2 |
Goat / Sheep Manure |
6500 |
2570 |
150 |
61 |
4600 |
|
3 |
Sewage Sludge |
8500 |
2459 |
262 |
643 |
9.0 |
|
4 |
FYM |
1788 |
34 |
137 |
2.5 |
4.6 |
|
5 |
Poultry Manure |
1400 |
90 |
210 |
7.1 |
5.0 |
|
6 |
Rural Compost |
3600 |
85 |
200 |
14 |
10 |
|
7 |
Pig Manure |
1200 |
50 |
70 |
8.9 |
3.5 |
