Nitrogen (N) – a major element needed by all green plants. It is transported from older growth to new growth. Deficiency – lack of lush green color, especially in older leaves. Toxicity – soft, dark green leaves, long weak stems, poor root development and slow to maturation.
Phosphorus (P) – an important mineral that stores energy in plants and animals, also a flowering agent. Deficiency – stunted, dark green leaves. Lower leaves turn yellow and die. Leaves have brown or purple spots. Toxicity – small, curled new leaves. Early maturity, large root systems.
Potassium (K) – a nitrogen catalyst needed for enzyme manufacture. Needed in large quantities, although plants do not use a tremendous amount. Deficiency – brown, necrotic (dead) tips and edge margins on older (lower) leaves followed by yellowing of the entire leaf. Dead brown spots on older leaves. Slender, weak stems and small seeds. Toxicity – saline condition, marginal leaf burn, wilting and drying due to poor water uptake.
Calcium (Ca) – helps form the structural parts of the plants (it is a major element in cell walls). Counters acidity (low pH). Deficiency – new growth affected first. Root tips turn brown and die. Hard, stiff new leaves with dead edges and brown spots. Stems are stunted and woody, blossoms fall off. Little or no fruit. Toxicity – rare, but can cause an alkaline (high pH) condition, wilting, iron and potassium lockup and deficiencies. Calcium is not very mobile in plants.
Magnesium (Mg) – is important in photosynthesis and the chlorophyll molecule where light energy is converted to chemical energy. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color. Deficiency – chlorosis (yellowing) of older leaves between the veins. Later, leaf tips curl, entire plant turns yellow and dies. Magnesium is mobile and is transported from older to newer growth. Old growth is affected first.
Phosphorus (P) – an important mineral that stores energy in plants and animals, also a flowering agent. Deficiency – stunted, dark green leaves. Lower leaves turn yellow and die. Leaves have brown or purple spots. Toxicity – small, curled new leaves. Early maturity, large root systems.
Potassium (K) – a nitrogen catalyst needed for enzyme manufacture. Needed in large quantities, although plants do not use a tremendous amount. Deficiency – brown, necrotic (dead) tips and edge margins on older (lower) leaves followed by yellowing of the entire leaf. Dead brown spots on older leaves. Slender, weak stems and small seeds. Toxicity – saline condition, marginal leaf burn, wilting and drying due to poor water uptake.
Calcium (Ca) – helps form the structural parts of the plants (it is a major element in cell walls). Counters acidity (low pH). Deficiency – new growth affected first. Root tips turn brown and die. Hard, stiff new leaves with dead edges and brown spots. Stems are stunted and woody, blossoms fall off. Little or no fruit. Toxicity – rare, but can cause an alkaline (high pH) condition, wilting, iron and potassium lockup and deficiencies. Calcium is not very mobile in plants.
Magnesium (Mg) – is important in photosynthesis and the chlorophyll molecule where light energy is converted to chemical energy. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color. Deficiency – chlorosis (yellowing) of older leaves between the veins. Later, leaf tips curl, entire plant turns yellow and dies. Magnesium is mobile and is transported from older to newer growth. Old growth is affected first.
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