Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Spinach

1.       Potassium

This nutrient is important for transporting of water within the plant

Symptom: Browning at leaf tips older leaves first then as the problem becomes worse the leaves will get brown (dead) spots between leaf veins.   

2.       Nitrogen

This nutrient is involved in the formation of proteins and plant growth

Symptoms: The older leaves are affected first because the nutrient moves from the old to the new as it tries to grow. The plant will eventually become a pale green or yellow colour with stunted stems growth.

The leaf turns light green then yellow, including the veins. The leaves will then become smaller, thinner as the disorder advances the leaves will develop dead spots and areas. Growth of the plant will slow and eventually stop if the disorder is not corrected

 

3.       Magnesium

Symptoms: Older leaves yellow with dark green veins, pale green colour overall.

The deficiency begins with mottled yellow areas on the leaf which develops between the leaves veins.

This deficiency is often confused with a potassium deficiency

 

4.       Phosphorous

This is needed for nucleic acid activity

Symptoms: Slowed growth and becomes bluish green in the older leaves first especially under leaf.

Seldom deficiencies in spinach

Secondary Nutrients:

5.       Calcium

Symptoms: The old leaves become wrinkled and curled while the new leaves also will remain curled and a light green band will occur along green margin.

 

6.       Zinc

Symptoms: Younger leaves become yellow and holes appear near the veins of the upper surface of mature leaves. The main veins remain green.

7.       Boron

Symptoms: Effects the mature tissue, both the pith and the epidermis of stems is affected therefore causing the stem to become hollow or roughened .The leaves of the plant is usually brittle and tend to break easily.

8.       Molybdenum

Symptoms: The entire plant will become a yellow colour similar to nitrogen deficiency but does not have the reddish colour behind the leaf. The leaf becomes a mottled this causes yellowing between the veins but the leaves remain green.

 

9.       Manganese

Symptoms: First found in the older leaves then in the younger leaves. It begins with a light colour change (Chlorosis) in the young leaves and in the netted veins of the mature leaves. As the stress increases the leaves become a gray metallic sheen, dark freckled and dead areas occur along the veins.

10.   Sulphur

Symptoms: The plant is usually stunted or reduces growth but there are no dead leaves but general yellowing of young leaves.

11.   Iron

Symptoms: The deficiency begins in the youngest leaves of the plant this eventually causes the entire plant to become a pale yellow. The bleached areas often become dead spots until the entire plant will become almost white.

 

12.   Chloride

Symptoms: The most common sign is pale yellow discolouring and wilting of young leaves. In mature leaves the upper side of the leaf becomes bronze.

13.   Copper

Symptoms: The leaves are curled and petioles bend downwards

Recently matured leaves show netted, green veining with areas bleached to a whitish    gray. The leaves tend to bend downwards with brown spots.