Nitrogen (N)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Chlorosis (loss of color) of leaves, typically starting from the tips of lower (older) leaves and spreading.
  • Crops ripen prematurely and fruits fall off.
  • Stunted growth of plants.
  • Leaves falling down before the plant matures.
  • Severe cases can lead to thin, weak, and spindly stems.

Phosphorus (P)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Reduced root development, especially secondary roots.
  • Leaves have a purplish or dark, dull, blue-green color.
  • Low and stunted growth.
  • Poor branching, as lateral buds remain dormant.
  • Dead spots on leaves and fruits.
  • Fewer and smaller tubers.
  • Delayed maturity.

Potassium (K)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Scorched (burnt) leaf margins from the tips spreading backwards, beginning with lower (older) leaves.
  • Weak stalks resulting in high plant lodging.
  • Small fruits, seeds, and tubers (shriveled seeds).
  • Small dots appearing on leaves.
  • Leaves may show blotchy chlorosis.

Calcium (Ca)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Terminal buds stop growing.
  • The young leaves of maize fail to open up.
  • The plant sheds off flowers and buds.
  • The stems are weak, resulting in lodging of plants.
  • Youngest leaves may be small, misshapen, with brown chlorotic spots along margins that spread.
  • Dark veins in completely necrotic leaves.
  • Crinkled and torn leaves.

Magnesium (Mg)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Yellowing between the leaf veins (interveinal chlorosis), sometimes with reddish-brown tints.
  • Early leaf fall.

Sulfur (S)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Leaves turn light green/yellow starting with young (newer) leaves.
  • Small and short plants with thin (spindly) stems.
  • Reduced nodulation in legumes.

Iron (Fe)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Interveinal chlorosis of young (newer) leaves (yellowing while veins remain green).
  • Young leaves can turn completely white in severe cases.
  • Twigs stop growing and die.
  • Stunted growth.
  • Premature leaf drop in severe cases.

Manganese (Mn)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Mottled interveinal chlorosis of young (newer) leaves (yellow to whitish with relatively wide, green areas along the veins).
  • Interveinal white/brown specks in some cereals.
  • Brown dead spots may develop between veins on severely affected leaves.
  • Leaf margins may become crinkled, curled, or wavy.

Boron (B)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Poor growth and sometimes terminal buds die.
  • Shortening of internodes.
  • Poor grain filling on maize cobs.
  • Soft or necrotic spots on fruits or tubers.
  • Brittle foliage.
  • Yellowing of lower leaf tips.

Molybdenum (Mo)

• Deficiency Signs
  • Curling of leaves.
  • Scorching of leaves.
  • General yellowing and stunting of the plant.
  • Cupping or rolling of leaves.