Module 2 Quiz-Abiotic Plant Problems

Burning-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

severe localized yellowing, scorched appearance

Chlorosis-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

general yellowing of plant tissue

Generalized-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

symptoms not limited to one area of plant but spread over entire plant

Localized-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

symptoms limited to one leaf or one section of leaf or plant

Mottling-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

spotted, irregular, inconsistant pattern

Necrosis-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

death of plant tissue, tissue browns and dies

Stunting-Deficiency Symptom Terminology

decrease growth, shorter height

Macronutrients

N,P,K, Ca, Mg, S

Micronutrients

B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo,Ni, Zn, disputed: Al, Co, Na, Si, V

What does it mean for the macro and micro nutrients to be essential

3 Structural nutrient elements C, H & O

The amount of nutrients needed will

change throughout the stages of plant growth, increase in vegetative and decrease in reproductive

Essentiality Criteria

plant unable to complete its normal life cycle in absence of element, function of element not replaceable (disputed), involved in some essential metabolism and constituent

PH is a

measure of Soil-Water solution acidity or alkalinity (range 0-14)

What does PH do?

regulates availability of nutrients to plants (5.5-7.0)

A crop my benefit or adapt from…

elevated soil ph, low soil ph

What do the 3 non mineral Structural Nutrients do?

Obtained from air & H2O, basis for sugars and starches, strength of cell walls, stems, sources of energy for the plant, source of energy for pathogens and pests

What do you always check when diagnosing?

PH

Deficiencies arise from interactions of

soil pH, CEC, base saturation, soil clay types, cultural practices, genetics, growth rate, root health, climate, weather, seasonality, water availability, uniformity

What do you perform to test for difficenies?

soil substrate nutirnt testes, ph, cec, base saturation, leaf tissue test ppm levels, pH and EC in greenhouse soilless substrate, irrigation water EC

Potassium (K) Functions and Status in Plant

translocation of sugars, starch formation, water use efficiency, guard cells, highly mobile in plant(old leaves), fruit size, qualities, and pod fill

Potassium (K) will not readily leech why?

positive ions unless in sandy soil or low pH soil

Potassium Symptoms of Deficiency

yellow chlorosis on matured lower leaves, discoloration of leaf margins, necrotic spots(blackening), cupping leaf margins, Severe=restricted growth and die back

Potassium Toxicity

rare, affect soil asborbtion of other nutrients, cause clay particles to disperse=less drainage, antagonistic with B and Mn uptake

Calcium Function

non-mobile, cell division and elongation, cell membrane permeability-regulates, cell structure-cell walls

Calcium mobility in plant

cannot translocate immobile (new growth), show up as localized during periods of rapid growth, can be more severe depending on weather and soil, sensitivity varies with cultivars

Calcium mobility in soil

somewhat mobile, relatively insoluble in soils primary and secondary minerals, held onto in cation exchange sites

Calcium deficiency symptoms

Tip burn at margin of newest developing leaf, soft dead necrosis at rapidly growing areas, growing points damages or dead (marginal necrosis)

Disorders of Localized physiological Ca deficiency

Tipburn of lettuce, inner and outer leaf, artichoke bud, Blossom End Rot (BER) starts as flattened dead spots where, flower attached; may show at leaf bases when advanced, Bitter pit of apple, fruit show sunken lenticels, necrosis inside the fruit, varying symptoms, Blackheart of celery,Cupping of poinsettia and cyclamen

Visual Diagnostic Rules

soil and plant tissue testing is rarely sufficient for diagnosis, visual symptoms show deficiencies before soil or tissue test

Calcium Correction

crop lost, short term foliar applications, increase Ca fertilizer, check pH of soil

Calcium Toxicity

rare, secondary or high pH problem, or antagonistic effect reduces uptake of other nutrients→ K, Mg,Z, I, B, Co,P

Functions of Nitrogen

main mineral constitute of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, coenzymes, essential cell division, growth, respiration, needed in large amounts

Nitrogen Characteristics

highly mobile in plant, taken up by roots by water, absorbed as ammonium and amino acids, small amounts absorbed through foliar application

Nitrogen Soil Status & Correction

not naturally abundant in soil, applied in forms of fertilizer, manure, decomposing/mineralizing waste or cover crop, nitrate anions leach

Nitrogen Deficiency Symptoms

growth limited, chlorosis on oldest leaves, foliage turns lighter green into yellow, no distinctive pattern, fruit pale, short, thick, progresses on younger leaves, stems spindly, new growth pale small leaves, midrib veins, lower leaf density, leaf necrosis, drying, browning turf, yellow bronze foliage

Functions of Sulfur (S)

component of chlorophyll pigments, enzyme activation functions, vitamins, formation of glucoside oils, nitrogenase enzyme of bacteria

Sulfer Soil Status

demands for S dependent of N uptake, 0.25% considers sufficient in plant tissue, 0.3-0.5% in crops sensitive, only 10% of soil S is in available form, leaches easily, rainfall may deposit S into soil

Diagnosing S deficiency

tissue and soil test, not visually evident until severe, worsed by sandy soil testure low pH, limited aeration and low organic matter

S Correction

easy with fertilizer, epsom salt, gypsum, Sol-Po-Mag, Calcium or ammonium sulfate

Sulffur Deficiency Symptoms

not considered very mobile, chlorosis in young new growth, stays chlorotic over time, looks like N deficiency

S deficiency in Ca

unusual, rarely seen in orchard crops, often confused with Fe deficiency, component of many fertilizers

S deficiency conditions

sandy soils or soil with low organic matter, high rainfall/irrigation frequency, low pollution, coal, diesel, more common in shallow rooted crops (grains, grases,legumes)

S Deficiency Symptoms

tip of shoot stays alive, light green upper leaves with lead veins lighter than surrounding area, grow slowly and appear smaller, delayed maturity, turf grass has intense yellow chlorosis after spring N fertilization

S Toxicity

rare to non existent, excessive applications can result in drop of soil pH, low pH could cause problems, sulfur uptake is reduced as pH decreases

Sulfur and Nitrogen

combined N and S deficiencies are common, often appear as iorn deficiancy, early dual symptims show as suntl eyellow chlorosis on older growth, chlorosis of younger upper canopy growth

Magnesium (Mg) Functions

No photosynthesis without it, involved in protein synthesis and enzymes,taken up by roots in mass flow, behaves like Ca in soil

Magnesium Mobility in Plants

somewhat mobile, translocated from old to new leaves, 80% mobile other 20% in chlorophyll, under deficiency plant degrades chlorophyll, when chlorosis symptoms appear very deficient

Magnesium Mobility in Soil

amount available dependent on parent soil material, relatively mobile, highly mobile in sandy soil

Too much Mg

interfere with K and Ca uptake, leaves turn dark green, yellow or brown, leaf curling and defoliation

When is Mg most available for plant uptake?

pH ramge 6.0-6.5

Mg Deficiency Diagnosis Requires

Soil test, Visual Diagnosis, Tissue Testing

Ways to Amend for Mg Deficiency

dolomite kime, soluble fertilizers

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

mobile in plant (old leaves), yellow interveinal chlorosis with dark green veins, sev increases into younger leaves, followed by necrosis and marginal leaf scotrch

Mg Deficiency Causes

potted crops-lack of substrate incorperation, rapid growth with cool temp, heavy rainfall, sandy/acidic soils, incorrect nutrient ratios

Causes of Phosphorus Def

Soil composition→sandy-less absorbed, clay→ more absorbed, high ph (over 7.5) levels binds with Ca, soil compaction, antagonistic levels of other nutrients, over fertilization of N,K, cold temps, excessive mosture

Phosphorus Mobility in Plant and Soil

somewhat mobile in plant, not very mobile in soil

Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

seen throughout plant, new leaves sparse and small, old leaves may turn purple/red, dead tips, shoots small in diameter,

Phosphorus Toxicity Symptoms

leaves yellow or dark between veins, burned leaf tips, narrow leaf blades, lower leaf curl, inhibit Fe, Zn uptake,

Phosphorus Correction

phosphorus containing fertilizers, Foliar application for quick application, triple phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, check soil pH