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)

Key Facts

Involved with the production of growth hormones
Necessary for starch formation and proper root development
Constituent in several plant enzymes

Deficiency Symptoms

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

Treatment – See Table 1

Boron

Key Facts

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
S.No	Organics	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