Common Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Corn(Maize)
 
Nitrogen Deficiencies:
 Nitrogen Deficiency
Nitrogen Deficiency
 Nitrogen Deficiency
Nitrogen Deficiency
Symptom: 
Yellow coloration in a ‘V’ shaped pattern  
  • progresses from leaf end to leaf collar
  • progresses from lower to upper leaves
Causes: 
  1. under-application of N fertilizer needs
  2. underestimation of N release in manure
  3. leaching of nitrate (rainfall/irrigation)
  4. loss of N as a gas in soils with history of standing water or in compacted sites
Remedies: (Corresponds to numbers above) 
  1. appropriate fertilizer N application according to soil test recommednations.
  2. analyze applied manure for N content, and provide proper N credit from the manure.
  3. apply irrigation level appropriate for soil, avoid long-term ponding or standing water (> 12 hours)
  4. install drainage tiles in heavier textured soils and /or minimize field compaction by reducing field trips in spring and fall, and drive in same wheel tracks.
     
 
   
Phosphorous Deficiencies:
Phosphorous Deficiency Symptom: 
Purple coloration of lower leaves 
 
Causes: 
  1. under-application of P fertilizer needs
  2. cooler/wetter weather which influence the soil temperature (environmentally induced) and reduces movement of P from soil to plant root.
  3. inherited tendency of some hybrids
Remedies: (Corresponds to numbers above) 
  1. apply fertilizer P as a ‘starter’ application at the 20-30 lbs.P2O5 /a rate and according to soil test recommendations.
  2. if the soil is a heavier texture, avoid planting at the earlier part of the appropriate range of of planting dates (warmer weather can correct symptoms).
  3. use strip tillage in fall or attach aggresive residue managers in spring for planting in no-till fields .
 
 
Sulfur Deficiencies:
 Sulfur Deficiency Images Not Available Yet
Sulfur Deficiency Images Not Available Yet
 Sulfur Deficiency Images Not Available Yet
Sulfur Deficiency Images Not Available Yet
Symptom: 
Yellow coloration in a striping or interveinal chlorosis pattern   
  • generally found in younger leaves
Causes: 
  1. under-application of S fertilizer needs
  2. reduced mineralization of organic -S to sulfate-S because of reduced soil temperatures or lower soil organic matter levels :
    1. fields with eroded knolls and hillsides have lower organic matter than rest of the field
    2. mineralization of organic-S to sulfate-S in fields under no-till cultivation is reduced compared to cultivated fields

Remedies:

  1. apply appropriate fertilizer S levels after soil testing
  2. analyze soil organic matter content (deficiencies are generally found in no-till soils with organic matter content of <2.5%)
  3. apply fertilizer in sulfate form as ammonium sulfate or ammonium thiosulfate . Elemental S may take several years to increase sulfate-S levels.
     
 
   

Potassium Deficiencies: 
Potassium Deficiency
Symptom: 
Yellow and brown coloration of leaf margins 
  • occurs first on lower leaves
  • may progress to upper leaves
Causes: 
  1. under-application of K fertilizer needs
  2. cooler/wetter weather (environmentally induced)
  3. planted K inefficient hybrids
Remedies: (Corresponds to numbers above) 
  1. apply an appropriate fertilizer K rate according to the soil test recommendation.
  2. if the soil is a heavier texture, wait to plant at the latter part of the appropriate range of planting dates. (warmer weather can correct symptoms).
  3. identify and plant K efficient hybrids
 
 
 

Zinc Deficiencies: 
Zinc Deficiency
Symptom:  
Yellow coloration in broad bands and localize d leaf striping (interveinal chlorosis).  
  • occurs in upper leaves
  • occurs in leaf middle, may progressing outward
Causes: 
  1. under-application of Zn fertilizer needs
  2. soil has high pH (>7.5)
Remedies: (Corresponds to numbers above) 
  1. apply appropriate Zn fertilizer as Zn-sulfate needs as starter fertilizer according to soil test recommendations. Applications of Zn-Chelates are not recommended due to high cost. Also avoid purchasing Zn-frits since this material if not very soluble.
  Other nutrient deficiency symptoms are not very obvious.  Testing the soil for nutrient levels and plant tissue for analysis are the only appropriate approaches to determine whether fertilizer applications are necessary.

We appreciate the use of those photographs which were contributed by the Potash and Phosphate Institute and Farmland Industries.

SDSU Soil Fertility Project Home