“Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiency in Crops and their Remedies”

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are primary nutrients, and they need to be provided to crops in large quantities. Iron, Boron, Zinc, Manganese, Molybdenum, Copper, and Sulfur are micronutrients, and they are required by crops in smaller quantities.

Symptoms: If there is a nitrogen deficiency in the soil, the lower leaves of the plant turn yellow, root or plant growth stops, and tillering/branching and fruiting are reduced.

Remedy: Spray 1% urea (100 grams in 10 liters of water).

Symptoms: If there is a deficiency of phosphorus in the soil, the leaves of the plant become elongated and green, growth is stunted, and the back of the leaf turns purple.

Remedy: Spray 1–2% DAP solution (100 to 200 grams in 10 liters of water).

Symptoms: If there is a potassium deficiency in the soil, the edges of the tree leaves turn reddish, and red and yellow spots appear on the leaves. Additionally, the stem becomes stunted and the tops fall off..

Remedy: Spray 1% Potassium Sulphate (100 grams in 10 liters of water).

Symptoms: If there is an iron deficiency in the soil, the area between the veins of the top (tender) leaves of the crop turns yellow, and the growth of the plant gets stunted.

Remedy: Spray 0.2% chelated iron (20 grams in 10 liters of water) and also mix 25 kg of ferrous sulfate per hectare into the soil.

Symptoms: If there is a boron deficiency in the soil, the growing tip or young leaves of the plant turn whitish and die off, become wrinkled, and develop yellow spots. Additionally, reddish specks/dots and cracks appear on the fruits.

Remedy: Spray 0.5% Boric Acid (50 grams in 10 liters of water).

Symptoms: If there is a deficiency of zinc in the soil, the leaves of the plant become small, the area between the veins turns yellow, and the leaves appear dried up.

Remedy: Spray 0.2% chelated zinc (20 grams in 10 liters of water) or mix 10 to 20 kg of zinc sulfate per hectare into the soil.

Symptoms: If there is a deficiency of the micronutrient manganese in the soil, the veins of the plant leaves remain green, but the area between the veins gradually turns yellow, whitish, and grey. Additionally, the leaves become pale and drop off.

Remedy: Spray 0.2% chelated manganese (20 grams in 10 liters of water) or apply 10 to 25 kg of manganese sulfate per hectare into the soil.

Symptoms: If there is a molybdenum deficiency in the soil, the plant leaves turn yellow and develop brown spots.

Remedy: Apply 250 to 500 grams of sodium molybdate per hectare into the soil.

Symptoms: If there is a deficiency of copper in the soil, the growth of the shoot tip (top growth) of the plant gets stunted, the plant gets affected by dieback disease, and the leaves drop.

Remedy: Spray 0.4% Copper Sulfate (40 grams in 10 liters of water) on the crop.

Symptoms: If there is a sulfur deficiency in the soil, the green color of the plant leaves gradually decreases, turning them yellow or white.

Remedy: Apply 20 to 40 kg of sulfur per hectare mixed with farmyard manure (FYM).