Nitrogen (N)

Symptoms

• Deficiency symptoms will be first noticed in older and lower leaves.
• Uniform light green chlorosis of the leaves are noticed
• Slow growth of plant leads to delayed or sparse fewer leaves & lesser ground coverage.
• Yellowing, wilting and drying up of oldest leaves, and purple veins on young leaves are common symptoms
• Delayed maturity
• Stunted growth of overall plant

Management

• For determining the severity of the deficiency, soil analysis has to be done
• Application of quick releasing nitrogen fertilizer like urea, according to the results of the soil test.
• Apply urea as a foliar spray (10 gram per litre of water) once every 15 days .
• Frequent application of organic growth boosters is also beneficial.

Phosphorus (P)

Symptoms

• Purplish reddish colouration observed especially on underside of leaves
• Plants become smaller & stunted in nature
• Poorly developed root system
• Older leaves appears dark green confused with iron deficiency
• Oldest leaves begin to die
• Yellowing develops unevenly, spreading from diffuse spots, the tip region, or one half of the blade.

Management

• Ensure that recommended amount of fertilizer is applied on regular time.
• For determining the severity of the deficiency, soil analysis is to be done
• Use fertilizers such as single superphosphate for quick correction or bone meal or rock phosphate for long-term correction.
• In the pH range of 6.5-7.5, phosphorus is readily absorbed by the roots.
• Addition of biofertilizers including phosphorus solubilizing bacteria along with organic manure helps to increase the availability of phosphorus

Potassium (K)

Symptoms

• yellowing start at edges of leaves progressing to brown/scorched leaf margins
• Exhibts reuced shoot & root growth
• Deficient plants exhibit Leaf curling or rolling upward along the edges
• Premature aging & abscission leading to overall reduced leaf area Plant exhibit wilting even the soil mositure is available

Management

• In the pH range of above 6, Potassium is readily available.
• Maintain pH by addition of lime/dolomite
• Improve the soil fertility by adding organic matter and wood ash.
• For determining the severity of the deficiency, soil analysis is to be done
• Use Muriate of Potash (MOP) according to the results of the soil test. Split application is preferable.
• Apply foliar sprays of sulphate of potash (SOP) (10 g/litre of water) and wetting agents in the morning as an immediate remedy

Calcium (Ca)

Symptoms

• Symptoms seen on growing points, younger leaves and developing tubers.
• Development of necrotic tissue spots
• Poor root devepment
• Interveinal chlorosis
• Tips of leaves may exhibit necrosis & dieback
• Deficient plants may produce soft, very small and misshapen storage roots depending on the varieties used.

Management

• Analysis of pH in the soil
• High phosphorus levels leads to calcium deficiency.
• In alkaline soil application of Gypsum is preferable
• Check the pH of the soil. If the soil is extremely acidic (pH between 3.5 and 4.5), apply lime (3.4 kg/cent of 40 m2 in two split doses). And in areas of moderate acidity (pH between 5.5 and 6), apply lime (1 kg/cent of 40 m2).

Magnesium (Mg)

Symptoms

• Interveinal shlorosis
• Premature leaf senescense
• Leaf curling or cupped
• Tubers maay small & misshapen
• Red or purple pigmentation may appear on the upper surface of older leaves,
• On the oldest leaves, yellow areas become brown and necrotic, but usually remain soft starting between the veins

Management

• Do the soil analysis and confirm the deficiency.
• Addition of Magnesium sulphate (320 g/cent or 32 kg/ acre) in bands near plants.
• Long-term usage of dolomite will reduce magnesium deficiency
• Magnesium and potassium fertilizers should not be applied together

Sulphur(S)

Symptoms

• Interveinal chlorosis
• yellowing starting from tip & progresses towards base
• Veins do not retain a green colour
• Tuber may misshapen
• Severe stunting, accompanied by reduced leaf size, and reduced activity of axillary buds, resulting in less branching
• Purple or red-brown pigmentation may develop on both young and old leaves
• Poor root development
• Slow growth of plant
• leaf curls & cupping
• Delayed maturity

Management

• Application of sulphur-containing fertilisers, such as Factamfos, Ammonium sulphate, Single superphosphate, etc., reduces the deficiency.
• In sulphur deficient soils, apply sulphur dust (100 gram per cent or 10 kilogrammes per acre).
• Deficiency in alkaline soil can be reduced by application of gypsum
• Addition of organic material improves sulphur availability in the soil.
• Burning of organic waste leads to sulphur deficiency

Boron (B)

Symptoms

• Distorted leaves
• Growing tissue of both the shoot and roots are affected by boron deficiency
• Brittle stems.
• Yellowing of leaves starts from tips & margins progress towards necrotic spots.
• Young leaves also become pale, either uniformly or with a diffuse interveinal pattern.
• Redcued tuber development
• Developing hollow areas in their flush reducing their marketability

Management

• Analysis of soil to confirm the deficiency.
• Application of borax (40 gram /plant or 4 kg/ acre) into the soil
• Addition of borax (1 gram / litre of water) as foliar spray .
• Avoid the combined application of Boron and calcium.
• Application of borax with ammonium fertilizers should be avoided

Copper (Cu)