Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Crops

Nutrient deficiency disease symptoms in plants is a common puzzle among crop farmers. What follows is a description of visual symptoms of deficiency diseases in plants due to lack of nutrients. While useful as a starting point to diagnosing agricultural production problems, keep in mind that multiple nutrition disorders often occur simultaneously. To understand your soil better, consider doing a soil analysis to determine which nutrients are deficient in your soil.

Each different nutrient has an important effect on crop nutrition and it is important to find a correct balance between macronutrients and micronutrients for maize crops. Nutrients in the soil are taken up by the roots of the plant after which they are translocated within the plant reaching the stems and leaves. Decreased water availability in the soil reduces the movement of the nutrients and when this is the case, plant growth is hampered.