Nitrogen | Essential role in production of proteins and chlorophyll. | Chlorosis, poor growth, yellowing leaves (generally at the bottom of the plant first). |
Phosphorous | Crucial in photosynthetic processes, may reduce drought stress. | Stunting, purpling, or bronzing of leaves, particularly the undersides of older leaves. |
Potassium | May improve resistance to stress and disease, aids in photosynthetic and respiratory processes. | Marginal chlorosis on younger leaves (yellowing or browning of the leaf edges), and eventual scorch (browning) from the outside edges of leaves toward the center line. |
Sulfur | Vital role in amino acids that form proteins, acidifies soil, making other nutrients more available. | Yellowing or pale foliage, stunted growth, veinal chlorosis (lighter-colored leaf veins than surrounding tissue), spindly and stunted growth. |
Calcium | Vital in cellular division and respiration. | New leaves, buds, and roots have stunted growth, young leaves are pale, curl downward, and browning from the tips toward the petiole (stem). |
Magnesium | Aids in protein synthesis and respiration. | Pale leaves, and interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between the leaf veins, with the veins remaining green), smaller mature leaves and leaf drop. |
Iron | Vital in transporting oxygen. | Similar to magnesium deficiency, but on newly formed leaves. Yellowing of young leaves and shoots, interveinal chlorosis, and tissue death. |
Manganese | Aids in protein synthesis and enzyme systems. | Yellowing between the leaf veins, with wide bands of green remaining on the veins themselves. Dead spots on leaves, followed by tip dieback. |
Zinc | Activates the plant’s own growth regulators. | Yellowing and mottling of young leaves, small leaves with browning patches and curling/wrinkling. |
Boron | Essential in cell division and differentiation in growth of tips. | Cupping or wrinkling of new leaves, development of dense lateral branching (witches’ broom), stunting and deformation of rapidly growing tips. |