Plant Nutrients: Nutrient Deficiencies

General Symptoms:
- Yellowing of leaves (chlorosis)
- Stunted growth
- Leaf necrosis (browning)
- Poor fruit/flower development
Specific Nutrient Deficiencies:
- Nitrogen:
  - Symptoms: Yellowing of older leaves, stunted growth
  - Function: Essential for protein synthesis and chlorophyll formation
- Phosphorus:
  - Symptoms: Dark green or purplish tint on older leaves, poor root development
  - Function: Key for energy transfer (ATP) and nucleic acid synthesis
- Potassium:
  - Symptoms: Yellowing or browning of leaf margins, weak stems
  - Function: Regulates water usage, enzyme activation, and photosynthesis
- Calcium:
  - Symptoms: Tip burn in new growth, blossom end rot in fruits
  - Function: Important for cell wall structure and stability
- Magnesium:
  - Symptoms: Interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between leaf veins)
  - Function: Central atom in chlorophyll, aids in photosynthesis
- Iron:
  - Symptoms: Interveinal chlorosis on young leaves
  - Function: Essential for chlorophyll synthesis and electron transport
- Manganese:
  - Symptoms: Similar to iron deficiency; chlorosis with speckling
  - Function: Involved in photosynthesis and enzyme activation

Definition: Nutrients required in large quantities for plant growth and development.
Primary Macronutrients:
1. Nitrogen (N)
  - Importance: Promotes leafy, vegetative growth; part of amino acids and proteins.
2. Phosphorus (P)
  - Importance: Vital for root development, flowering, and fruiting; involved in energy transfer.
3. Potassium (K)
  - Importance: Enhances drought resistance, improves fruit quality, and regulates stomatal opening.
Secondary Macronutrients:
1. Calcium (Ca)
  - Importance: Strengthens cell walls; crucial for root and leaf development.
2. Magnesium (Mg)
  - Importance: Component of chlorophyll; aids in enzyme function.
3. Sulfur (S)
  - Importance: Essential for amino acids and plant metabolism; contributes to protein structure.
Sources:
- Organic Matter: Compost, manure, and plant residues for nutrient release.
- Fertilizers: Synthetic or natural fertilizers to replenish nutrient levels based on soil tests.
Application: Soil amendment based on plant needs and growth stages; observing for deficiencies helps tailor nutrient management.

General signs of nutrient deficiency include:
- Yellowing of leaves (chlorosis)
- Stunted growth
- Leaf necrosis, or browning
- Poor fruit or flower development

Nitrogen deficiency:
- Older leaves yellow
- Growth is stunted
- Nitrogen is needed for protein synthesis and chlorophyll formation
Phosphorus deficiency:
- Older leaves have a dark green or purplish tint
- Poor root development
- Phosphorus is needed for energy transfer and nucleic acid synthesis
Potassium deficiency:
- Leaf margins yellow or brown
- Stems are weak
- Potassium helps regulate water usage, enzyme activation, and photosynthesis
Calcium deficiency:
- Tip burn in new growth
- Blossom end rot in fruits
- Calcium is essential for cell wall structure and stability
Magnesium deficiency:
- Chlorosis between leaf veins (interveinal chlorosis)
- Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll and is important for photosynthesis
Iron deficiency:
- Interveinal chlorosis on young leaves
- Iron is needed for chlorophyll synthesis and electron transport
Manganese deficiency:
- Similar to iron deficiency
- Chlorosis with speckling
- Manganese is involved in photosynthesis and enzyme activation

Definition: Nutrients that plants need in large amounts for growth and development
Primary Macronutrients:
- Nitrogen (N): Promotes leafy, vegetative growth; part of amino acids and proteins.
- Phosphorus (P): Vital for root development, flowering, and fruiting; involved in energy transfer.
- Potassium (K): Enhances drought resistance, improves fruit quality, and regulates stomatal opening.
Secondary Macronutrients:
- Calcium (Ca): Strengthens cell walls; crucial for root and leaf development.
- Magnesium (Mg): Component of chlorophyll; aids in enzyme function.
- Sulfur (S): Essential for amino acids and plant metabolism; contributes to protein structure.
Sources:
- Organic Matter: Compost, manure, and plant residues release nutrients.
- Fertilizers: Synthetic or natural fertilizers replenish nutrient levels based on soil tests.
Application:
- Amend the soil based on plant needs and growth stages.
- Pay attention to signs of deficiency and adjust nutrient management accordingly.