Fertilizer Elements – What they do & Deficiency Symptoms

Hotwired · December 1, 2012

Sometimes diagnosing diseases and nutrient deficiencies can be a confusing task at best. Sometimes one problem can cause three others. There are lots of websites that give examples of deficiencies. I compiled a quick reference for myself on what each chemical does, the effect upon the plant, and symptoms of deficiencies. It is a continuing work in progress, and will probably never be complete.

Hopefully people can find it useful in understanding fertilizers and plant nutrition.
http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdf/F...y_symptoms.pdf

Hotwired NY 5b
http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdfs.html

RayR · December 2, 2012

Nutrient deficiency symptoms can be difficult to diagnose and cure because it’s not always as simple as a lack of a particular nutrient. You could have plenty of that nutrient in the soil and still have symptoms of a deficiency of that nutrient. Symptoms of Magnesium deficiency could be caused by excessive amounts of Potassium or Calcium in the soil as an example.
Water logged soils from excessive rain fall, flooding, poor drainage or over watering can cause deficiency symptoms. Low soil CEC, too low or too high a PH, salt buildup from synthetic fertilizers, low soil temperature, poor soil biology and more things I suppose others may have encountered as contributors to nutrient deficiency symptoms.

December 1, 2012	#1
Hotwired Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ithaca, NY - USDA 5b Posts: 241	Fertilizer Elements – What they do & Deficiency Symptoms Sometimes diagnosing diseases and nutrient deficiencies can be a confusing task at best. Sometimes one problem can cause three others. There are lots of websites that give examples of deficiencies. I compiled a quick reference for myself on what each chemical does, the effect upon the plant, and symptoms of deficiencies. It is a continuing work in progress, and will probably never be complete. Hopefully people can find it useful in understanding fertilizers and plant nutrition. http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdf/F...y_symptoms.pdf Hotwired NY 5b http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdfs.html

December 2, 2012	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Nutrient deficiency symptoms can be difficult to diagnose and cure because it’s not always as simple as a lack of a particular nutrient. You could have plenty of that nutrient in the soil and still have symptoms of a deficiency of that nutrient. Symptoms of Magnesium deficiency could be caused by excessive amounts of Potassium or Calcium in the soil as an example. Water logged soils from excessive rain fall, flooding, poor drainage or over watering can cause deficiency symptoms. Low soil CEC, too low or too high a PH, salt buildup from synthetic fertilizers, low soil temperature, poor soil biology and more things I suppose others may have encountered as contributors to nutrient deficiency symptoms.