Easy Detect If You Are Giving

Less or More of Nutrients

Like a child we care for our plants.

Local environ provides the basic to a plant – the earth, the air, the water and sunshine. Fertilization is to be done as part of fertility management so that the growth and production of the plant of whatever type is on course with the desired objectives which will remain maximizing yield and optimizing costs for same. Such management would in some ways reduce the differences in environs at different places.

We have discussed in our article how usage of fertilizers slowly increases productivity at first but pushing it beyond a point is actually detrimental to productivity and if not corrected plants will die. A balancing of Fertigation is thus most essential in fertility management.

There are number of advisory articles as to how much Fertigation is optimum quantitatively. Below we discuss how by visually monitoring our plants also such information can be gleaned for a quick assessment. Thereafter more can be attempted to regain the balance in Fertigation management.  Let us discuss one by one the nutrients Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Iron (Fe) below.

NITROGEN (N)

Deficiency symptoms: plants show slow growth, will show chlorosis in lower leaves the leaves will turn yellowish.

Excess symptoms:  delayed flowering and plant growth will be reduced. Older leaves are curled, chlorosis (yellowing) and necrosis occurs in the leaves.

PHOSPHOROUS (P)

Deficiency Symptoms: leaves tend first to turn dark shade of green, plants growth is less. When deficiency is more, leaves would turn reddish purple and if persisted then necrosis may set in. Such behavior is also seen in winters.

Excess symptoms: Excess of P would also stunt growth. Additionally intake of nutrients Iron, Zinc, Magnesium and Copper would be reduced in plant thus inducing deficiency of these.

POTASSIUM (K)

Deficiency Symptoms: Plants gets weak, its stalk thin, and necrosis sets in the lower leaf margins.

Excess symptoms: Excess of Potassium reduces intake of certain nutrients and induces deficiencies like Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium and Magnesium.

CALCIUM (Ca)

Deficiency Symptoms: it is important nutrient. Deficiency of same results in necrosis (darkening) of budding points and in roots.

Excess symptoms: reduces uptake of nutrients Potassium, Magnesium and Boron.

MAGNESIUM (Mg)

Deficiency Symptoms: deficiency of Mg affects older leaves by way of chlorosis; also the leaves curl upwards on the edges.

Excess symptoms: if in excess, will affect uptake of Calcium.

IRON (Fe)

Deficiency Symptoms: show first as Interveinal chlorosis of the younger leaves and slowly extends to tips; dieback may occur if persistent deficiency.

Excess symptoms: excess reduce uptake of Manganese. The iron deficiency or excess is related also to pH of soil so that needs to be seen before any fertility management is undertaken. Lower leaves show necrotic specking.

A continuous observation of the condition of the plants tells us a lot about the health of the plant. This is how plants communicate. It is possible to make a quick assessment of our Fertility Management practice and thus take care of many a problems in fertigation.  Welcome if the readers add some thing of your own experiences and share with  us all.

About nkp

Hi ; I have had opportunity to travel widely and have keen watched whatever farming practices the local farmers were engaged in. Back home been growing gerberas mostly in polyhouses, but outside in kitchen garden as well. i love these hardy perennials. good for business too if done in a routine orderly scientific manner. Also engaged in farming of wheat and organic vegetables on a small scale for me and family. My service profile has been that of an electronic and telecom engineer and now am engaged in web site creation and blogging.