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Deficiency symptoms in plants refer to the indications that become visible due to the inadequate supply of essential nutrients. It is known that plants derive sustaining nutrients from the soil itself.
- Deficiency symptoms in plants are also influenced by the use of pesticides and harmful diseases.
- This leads to retardation in the plant's healthy growth.
- The nutrients required by plants in large quantities for nourishment are known as macronutrients.
- Potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc., come in the category of macronutrients.
- Micronutrients are small quantities of nutrients.
- Copper, Boron, Iron, etc, comes in the category of micronutrients.
- The nutrients must be converted to simpler forms before a plant can utilize them.
- Absence of nutrients can visibly be seen in the plant's morphology.
Key Terms: Deficiency symptoms in plants, Deficiency, Symptoms, Nutrients, Plants, Elements, Micronutrients, Macronutrients, Plant’s Morphology, Potassium, Nitogen, Soil, Carbon, Hydrogen
What are Nutrients Deficiency in Plants?
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Nutritional deficiency refers to limited access to important chemical components. Certain morphological changes are visible in plants if any of these essential elements are deficient in them.
- Deficiency symptoms often disappear when the plants are provided with the required vital nutrients or elements.
- The lack of vital nutrients eventually results in the death of such nutrient-deficient plants.
- Different plants respond differently when there is a deficiency of a certain nutrient.
- For proper development, the required chemicals with their volume must be analysed.
- The symptoms are first encountered in leaves.
Every element has more than one fundamental function in plants, and deficiency symptoms vary from element to element. This condition of the attentiveness of essential elements leads to stunted and unhealthy plant growth and is termed critical concentration.
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Symptoms of Deficiency in Plants
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The important symptoms of deficiency in plants are as follows:
- Damage of crop at the seedling stage.
- Indication of stunting of growth of plants.
- Clogging of conductive tissues, which leads to stunted growth.
- Differences in the type of leaves that are checked throughout the season.
- Abnormal maturity of the plants.
- Difference in the yield of the plants.
Deficiency Symptoms in Plants
Identifying Deficiency Symptoms in Plants
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When required amount of nutrients are not provided to plants, they tend to exhibit certain properties that lead to the identification of deficiency in plants.
- In case deficiency of plants is mobile then symptoms are first seen in the roots of the plants.
- Later it will damage the younger tissues of the plants.
- In case of immobile deficiency then it will affect the younger organ of the tissues.
- In the next stage, it is transported to the mature organs of the plants.
Elements Necessary for the growth of Plants
Following is the list of elements necessary for the growth of plants:
Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
Although these elements do not fall under the mineral essential elements category but are considered the foundation of the growth of plants. These elements constitute over 90% of the total dry matter of plants.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is absorbed by plants in three various forms: Nitrate (NO3-), Nitrite (NO2-) or Ammonium (NH4+). Meristematic tissues possess the need for nitrogen in greater quantities.
Phosphorus
This element is restrained in soil in both organic and inorganic structure. However, plants absorb phosphorus solely in inorganic structure- Monovalent Phosphate Anions (H2PO4) and Divalent Phosphate Anions (H2PO4)2-.
- It often comes into use in younger tissues.
Potassium
It is absorbed as potassium ion and is a perquisite in meristematic tissues, tips of roots and leaves as well.
Calcium
Calcium is absorbed by the plants from the soil in the form of Ca2+ ions which is lacking in sandy soils.
Magnesium
Magnesium is available in the soil like calcium. It is absorbed as divalent Mg2+. This element is necessary in leaves.
Sulphur
Sulphur is absorbed by the plants from the soil as divalent sulphate anions (SO42-). Whereas atmospheric SO2 and SO3 are directly absorbed. It is an essential element required in stem, leaves and root tips.
Common Deficiency in Plants
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Common nutrients deficiencies are divided into macronutrients deficiency and micronutrients deficiency.
Deficiency Symptoms in Plants for Macronutrients
Various symptoms observed in plants observed due to macronutrients which are as follows:
Nitrogen
The symptoms of deficiency in plants due to nitrogen are as follows:
- Chlorosis i.e. yellow leaves in plants and purple colours appear in the shoot axis.
- underdeveloped and undersized plants due to reduction in cell division.
- Slow flowering
- Decreased protein and increased starch concentration.
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Phosphorus
The symptoms of deficiency in plants due to phosphorus are as follows:
- Purple or reddish pigmentation on the leaves
- Leaves and floral buds fall prematurely
- Seed germination becomes delayed
- Older leaves turn pale
- Thin stems in young plants
- Reduction of vascular tissues in tomato plants
Potassium
The symptoms of deficiency in plants due to potassium are as follows:
- Marginal chlorosis is visible on leaf tips, margins and between vein
- The rate of respiration is increased.
- Visible loss of cambial activity
- Resultant death from shoot tip followed to the base
- Plant likely to be bent to the ground
Calcium
The symptoms of deficiency in plants due to calcium are as follows:
- Diminutive growth
- Chlorosis and deformed young leaves
- Affected by necrosis in young meristematic regions
Magnesium
The symptoms of deficiency in plants due to magnesium are as follows:
- Appearance of chlorosis between the veins of leaves
- Purple spots become visible on older leaves
- Large development of chlorenchyma
Sulphur
Since sulphur and nitrogen are protein constituents, their deficiency symptoms are more or less the same.
Deficiency Symptoms in Plants for Micronutrients
Various symptoms observed in plants observed due to micronutrients which are as follows:
Boron
The deficiency of boron lead to damage of terminal buds which in turn affect the growth of plants.
Copper
The deficiency of copper lead to improper growth cycle in roots and stems of the plants.
Zinc
The deficiency of zinc cause formation of purple pigments followed by veinal chlorosis.
Molybdenum
The deficiency of molybdenum will caues leaves turn yellow and distorted.
The table below highlights the common deficiency symptoms in plants:
| Nutrients | Deficiency Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Boron | Chlorosis, leaf deformation with patches of discoloration |
| Nitrogen | Underdeveloped and undersized plants due to reduction in cell division |
| Chlorine | Chlorosis, wilting of leaves |
| Phosphorus | Leaves and floral buds fall prematurely |
| Calcium | Chlorosis and deformed young leaves |
| Iron | Chlorosis between the veins of the new leaves |
| Molybdenum | Chlorosis of oldest leaves |
| Magnesium | Appearance of chlorosis between the veins of leaves |
Things To Remember
- Deficiency symptoms in plants will turn veins darker, and leaves of the plant will become light.
- The nutrients required by plants in copious quantities for nourishment are known as macronutrients.
- Nutrients required by plants in reduced quantity are referred to as micronutrients.
- Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen lay the framework for the growth of plants.
- The area of plants that experience the deficiency is called mineral mobility.
- The division of cells depends upon the quantity of phosphorus.
Sample Questions
Ques. What leads to deficiency symptoms in plants? (3 marks)
Ans. When there is a lack of vital nutrients and conditions in plants, it leads to deficiency in them as the necessary requirements are overlooked. Plants require certain nutrients for sustaining themselves.
- Plants derive such essential and sustaining nutrients from the soil itself. If the soil is too acidic, alkaline or is waterlogged, it becomes difficult for the plants to take in soil nutrients.
- Deficiency symptoms in plants are also influenced by the use of pesticides and harmful diseases.
Ques. What are the symptoms of nutrient deficiency in plants? (3 marks)
Ans. Burns on tips, chlorosis or necrosis are some of the symptoms of nutrient deficiency in plants. One can locate a particular nutrient disorder in the plant based on the location of the deficiency symptom.
- Nutrients travel the whole plant or are mobile.
- When this mobility of nutrients is hindered, deficiency symptoms begin to surface.
- Older and mature leaves tend to show signs of deficiency symptoms when there is a lack of supply of mobile nutrients.
- Deficiency symptoms in newer leaves occur when there is a lack of immobile nutrients supply in plants.
Ques. What is chlorosis? (3 marks)
Ans. Chlorosis can be defined as an anomalous state where the plants lack chlorophyll and due to which the green parts of the plants tend to lose their colour. Often green leaves have been captured turning yellow in colour.
- The plants are dependent on chlorophyll for their green colour and lack of which, plants tend to turn chlorotic or pale, yellow.
- Such plants become highly affected by the insufficiency of chlorophyll and might end up dead.
Ques. What is mineralization? (2 marks)
Ans. The process by which microorganisms, also referred to as microbes, change organic materials into inorganic chemicals is called mineralization.
Fungi assist certain plants in absorbing phosphorus by encouraging root enlargement and increasing soil-to-root contact.
Ques. How does calcium deficiency affect the plants? (2 marks)
Ans. Calcium being the essential nutrient plays a vital role in the healthy growth of plants. Calcium is responsible for maintaining the chemical balance in the soil and improving water penetration. Deficiency of calcium in plants leads to necrosis, plant growth is reduced, leaves are curled up, diseased or small fruits at harvest, and eventually the plant’s buds and root tips are affected leading to slow death of the plants.
Ques. What are the symptoms of plants deficient in nitrogen? (2 marks)
Ans. When a plant is suffering from nitrogen deficiency, the older leaves are affected first as the yellow colour of leaves becomes prominent. Often the colour of the leaves change from green to pale green. Reduced flow of nitrogen in plants results in their stunted growth and stems turn purple as well. Plants require the right blend of vital nutrients for an advanced yield. Nutrient deficient plants are a sign of unhealthy plants.
Ques. State four macro and micronutrients each in plants? (2 marks)
Ans. Macronutrients deficiency found in plants are as follows:
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
- Calcium
Micronutrients deficiency found in plants are as follows:
- Boron
- Zink
- Magnesium
- Iron
Ques. What are the symptoms of potassium deficiency in plants? (5 marks)
Ans. Symptoms of potassium deficiency are:
- Marginal chlorosis is visible on leaf tips, margins and between vein
- The rate of respiration is increased as well
- Visible loss of cambial activity
- Resultant death from shoot tip followed to the base
- Plant likely to be bent to the ground
Ques. What is hidden hunger? (2 marks)
Ans. When a crop need more of a certain nutrient but has not displayed any symptoms of a deficit, this is referred to as hidden hunger. Even when the concentration of nutrients is above the zone where deficiencies manifest, they are still crucial for the best crop performance. Even though no discernible symptoms have shown up, considerable responses can be obtained with most nutrients on most crops.
Ques. What is the difference between macronutrients and micronutrients? (4 marks)
Ans. The difference between macronutrients and micronutrients are as follows:
| Macronutrients | Micronutrients |
|---|---|
| Macronutrients are those nutrients that are required in large quantities. | Micronutrients are nutrients that are required in small quantities. |
| These types of nutrients provide energy to plants. | These types of nutrients prevent diseases in plants. |
| It is called major elements. | It is called trace elements. |
| These nutrients help in metabolic functions. | These nutrients help in the growth of plants. |
Ques. What is the process of identifying deficiency symptoms in plants? (4 marks)
Ans. Different ways of identifying deficiency symptoms in plants are as follows:
- Inspection of plants to rule out crop illnesses and pest infestations brought on by biotic factors.
- Evaluation of the effects of an adverse environment.
- Total crop failure in seedling form.
- Severe plant stunting.
- Different leaf symptoms that manifest at different times of the season.
- Anomalies within, such blocked conductive tissues.
- Abnormal or delayed maturity.
- Noticeable variations in yield, whether or not there are leaf problems.
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