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The first chart shows some NPK percentage comparisons of various elements and
rates of applications. We felt it is an interesting chart and wanted to include
it. We have had a
copy of this chart for many years and the source is unknown.
The second chart
shows nutrient deficiency symptoms.
It is a good diagnostic tool if your plants are showing physical signs you can't explain.
The third
chart shows the function of elements
There are 19 beneficial elements which contribute to healthy plant growth. Three
of these essential elements: oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, are provided by air
and water while the rest are absorbed by plants through the soil.
Major
Natural Sources of One Element
| MATERIAL |
NITROGEN
% |
APP.
PER 100 SQ. FT. |
APP.
PER ACRE |
| Bloodmeal |
15.0 |
10 oz. |
265 lbs. |
| Felt Wastes |
14.0 |
12 oz. |
285 lbs. |
| Hoofmeal & Horndust |
12.5 |
13 oz. |
320 lbs. |
| Guano |
12.0 |
14 oz. |
335 lbs. |
| Animal Tankage |
8.0 |
1-1/4 lbs. |
500 lbs. |
| Cottonseed Meal |
8.0 |
1-1/4 lbs. |
500 lbs. |
| Fish Scrap |
8.0 |
1-1/4 lbs. |
500 lbs. |
| Milorganite |
6.0 |
1-5/8 lbs. |
665 lbs. |
| Castor Pomace |
5.5 |
1-3/4 lbs. |
725 lbs. |
| Bone Meal |
4.0 |
2-1/2 lbs. |
1000 lbs. |
| Peanut Shells |
3.6 |
2-3/4 |
1100 lbs. |
| Cowpea, Vetch or Alfalfa
Hay |
3.0 |
3-5/8 lbs. |
1450 lbs. |
| Cocoa Shells |
2.7 |
3-3/4 lbs. |
15oo lbs. |
| MATERIAL |
POTASH% |
APP.
PER 100 SQ. FT. |
APP.
PER ACRE |
| Flyash |
12.0 |
14 oz. |
335 lbs. |
| Wood Ashes |
8.0 |
1-1/4 lbs. |
500 lbs. |
| Granite Dust |
5.0 |
2 lbs. |
800 lbs. |
| Seaweed |
5.0 |
2 lbs. |
800 lbs. |
| Fish Scrap, Dried |
4.0 |
2-1/2 lbs. |
1000 Lbs. |
| Greensand |
7.0 |
1-1/2 lbs. |
570 lbs. |
| MATERIAL |
PHOSPHOROUS% |
APP.
PER 100 SQ. FT. |
APP.
PER ACRE |
| Phosphate, Rock |
30.0 |
12 oz. |
279 lbs. |
| Bonemeal, Steamed |
28.0 |
14 oz. |
330 lbs. |
| Bonemeal, Raw |
24.0 |
14 oz. |
330 lbs. |
| Animal Tankage |
20.0 |
1 lb. |
400 lbs. |
| Fish Scrap, Dried |
13.0 |
1-3/4 lbs. |
675 lbs. |
| Basic Slag |
8.0 |
2-1/2 lbs. |
1000 lbs. |
| Sugar Wastes, Raw |
8.0 |
2-1/2 lbs. |
1000 lbs. |
| Incinerator Ash |
5.0 |
4 lbs. |
1500 lbs. |
| Cottonseed Meal |
2.5 |
8 lbs. |
1-1/2 tons |
Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Note: More remedies will be posted soon
| PRIMARY
ELEMENTS |
SYMPTOMS |
REMEDIES |
Nitrogen (N)
Necessary for all phases of plant growth |
Little new growth, yellow leaves: this being more pronounced
in older leaves. Earlier fall leaf drop. New shoots may be red to red-brown. |
Quick fix: Make weekly foliar applications of
fish emulsion or manure tea.
Long term: Apply aged compost, manure, soybean meal or cottonseed meal to
the soil once in spring. Seaweed extract will improve the soil environment
thus giving nitrogen fixing bacteria a boost. |
Phosphorous (P)
Necessary for strong stems, fruiting, rooting and seed
making. |
Overall dark green with purple, blue or reddish cast to leaves particularly on
underside, veins and stems and some plants respond to lack of P with
yellowing. Foliage may be sparse, small
and distorted becoming mottled and bronzy with maturity. Very distinctive symptoms.
Excess foliage with no flowers can also indicate lack of (P). |
Quick fix: Spray plant weekly with fish emulsion
until symptoms quit. Apply a light soil dressing of wood ashes.
Incorporate aged compost into the soil to boost microorganisms.
Long term: Mix rock phosphate or aged manure into the soil in fall. |
Potash (K)
Potassium
Necessary for strong root systems and for forming
starch, protein and sugar. |
Sickly looking plants, undersized fruits, leaves showing
marginal and interveinal yellowing. Yellowing starts on older leaves and
progresses upwards. Leaves may crinkle, turn brown and roll upwards.
Blossoms may be distorted and small. Plant has little resistance to heat,
cold and disease problems. |
Potash deficiency is mostly in the upper levels
of soil.
Quick fix: Spray plant weekly with fish emulsion until symptoms quit.
Long term: Apply seaweed, manure, granite dust or greensand to the soil in
fall. Hardwood ashes may be applied to soil anytime. |
| SECONDARY
ELEMENTS |
SYMPTOMS |
REMEDIES |
| Calcium (Ca) |
Young leaves are small and distorted with curled back leaf
tips. Shoots may be stunted and show some dieback, roots will be stunted. |
|
| Magnesium (Mg) |
A lack of
magnesium is characterized almost identically with iron deficiency but the
older leaves, generally at the bottom of the plant, show marginal and interveinal
reddening or yellowing with leaf base and midrib staying green. Later
in the season interveinal necrosis may occur. Leaves may be brittle and thin
with leaf curling and stunted growth.. Apples may
drop prematurely. In the fall as temperatures cool plants are unable to take up Mg and
leaves will turn a purple color. |
Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) can be used for
magnesium deficiency. You can use it watering with a mix of 1-2 teaspoons
or Epsom salts dissolved in 1 gallon of water or using the mix as foliar
spray. Make 3 applications 6 weeks apart. Other treatments include adding
fish meal, basic slag, greensand or dolomitic limestone. |
| Sulfur (S) |
Leaves are pale yellow-green at any stage of development.
Shoots are stunted. Similar to chlorosis. |
Perform a
soil test; correct as necessary.
Add sulfur or potassium sulfate as necessary. Use caution when applying
sulfur compounds, however. Too much sulfur ("sulfur toxicity")
appears as veinal chlorosis followed by rapid defoliation of the lower
leaves.
|
| MINOR
ELEMENTS |
SYMPTOMS |
REMEDIES |
Boron (B)
Boron amounts in the soil is directly proportional to
the amount of organic matter.
|
Youngest leaves may be red, bronze or scorched also small,
thick or brittle. New shoot tips may form what is called a witches broom.
Stems stiff; terminal buds die and growths die back; lateral shoots
developed, giving plant flat top; leaves highly tinted purple, brown and
yellow. Fruit and vegetables may have heart rot. Fruits pitted and corky
areas in skin; ripening is uneven. Boron deficiencies are found mainly in
acid, sandy soils in regions of high rainfall, and those with low soil
organic matter. Borate ions are mobile in soil and can be leached from the
root zone. Boron deficiencies are more pronounced during drought periods
when root activity is restricted. |
Apply household borax at a rate 1 tablespoon
borax to 12 quarts of water. This amount will treat a 100 foot row of
vegetables or 10 square feet of soil. Apply two times 2-3 weeks apart. |
| Copper (Cu) |
Copper
deficiencies are mainly seen on sandy soils which are low in organic
matter. Copper uptake decreases as soil pH increases. Increased phosphorus
and iron availability in soils decreases copper uptake by plants. Small leaves with necrotic (dead) spots and brown areas near
the leaf tips. Rosetting of the leaves and dieback of terminal shoots. |
|
| Iron (Fe) |
New leaves are the most symptomatic and when
condition is most severe they can be all yellow or white but still have
green veins. Overall you see yellow leaves with green veins leading to marginal
scorching or browning of leaf tips. Tip leaves, especially basal areas of
leaflets, intense chlorotic mottling; stem near tip also yellow. Fruits have poor color. Shoot diameter is small. Iron deficit often occurs
when the soil pH is higher than 7.5 meaning it is more alkaline. Lack of
Fe is common in plants living next to concrete walls, foundations etc. |
Perform a
soil test; correct soil pH to 7.0 or lower.
In iron-deficient soils, add bone meal or blood meal organic amendments,
or add iron sulfate or chelated iron liquid or granular inorganic
amendments.
Quick fix: Apply chelated iron directly to soil or as a foliar spray.
Reduce soil pH to at least 7.0 which is considered neutral.
Long term: Improve the soil by adding 1-2 inches of compost in the spring
every year. |
| Manganese (Mn) |
Similar to N deficiency, leaves display marginal scorching,
rolling and reduced width. Yellowing may also occur between leaf veins or
total yellowing on youngest leaves. |
Perform a
soil pH test; correct to 6.5 or lower.
In deficient soils, add
millorganite or houorganite treated sludge organic amendments, or
Add manganese sulfate inorganic
amendments.
|
| Molybdenum (Mo) |
Only a problem with brassicas like broccoli,
cauliflower etc in acid soil. Heads can fail to form, leaves will
become thin, elongated and rippled. |
Add lime to soil before planting or sowing
seeds. |
| Zinc (Zn) |
Zinc
deficiencies are mainly found on sandy soils low in organic matter and on
organic soils. Zinc deficiencies occur more often during cold, wet spring
weather. New and intermediate leaves are small, yellow,
sometimes with a grayish cast. Narrow and older leaves may drop.
Small shoots may show rosetting followed by dieback. |
Test the soil for a pH Imbalance,
making sure that the pH is between 5.8 and 6.2. A pH imbalance can inhibit
the absorption of zinc and other nutrients.
Use fertilizers that generate acidity. Organic compounds such as zinc
chelates (zinc EDTA and zinc NTA) are about 5 times more effective than
inorganic salts with equivalent amounts of zinc.
Apply aged organic manure. |
Function
of Elements in
Plant Health
| ELEMENTS |
FUNCTIONS |
|
Boron (B) |
Stimulates cell division, flower formation and
pollination |
|
Calcium (Ca) |
Raises soil pH; promotes root hair formation
and early growth |
|
Chlorine (Cl) |
Needed for photosynthesis; stimulates root
growth and aids water circulation in plants |
|
Cobalt (Co) |
Improves growth, water circulation, and
photosynthesis |
|
Copper (Cu) |
Stimulates stem development and pigment
formation |
|
Iron (Fe) |
Stimulates the formation of chlorophyll and
helps oxidize sugar for energy; also necessary for legume nitrogen
fixation. It regulates the respiration of the plant's cells. |
|
Magnesium (Mg) |
Aids in chlorophyll formation and energy
metabolism; it increases oil production in flax and soy beans; helps
regulate uptake of other elements. It also promotes healthy,
disease-resistant plants. It is generally available in acidic soils. |
| Manganese (Mn) |
Necessary for the formation of chlorophyll |
|
Molybdenum (Mo) |
Needed for nitrogen fixation and nitrogen use
in the plant; stimulates plant growth and vigor much like nitrogen |
|
Nitrogen (N) |
Necessary for chlorophyll and genetic material
(DNA & RNA) formation; stimulates green, leafy growth |
|
Phosphorous (P) |
Necessary for genetic material (DNA & RNA)
formation; stimulates fruit, flower and root production, and early
season growth; increases disease resistance |
|
Silicon (Si) |
Increases number of seeds; strengthens cell
walls of plants |
|
Sodium (Na) |
Increases resistance to drought;
increases sugar content in some crops |
|
Sulfur (S) |
Aids in formation of certain oil compounds
that give specific odors to some plants such as onions, garlic, mustard,
etc; increases oil production in flax and soy beans |
| Zinc (Z) |
Stimulates stem growth and flower bud
formation |
Nutrient Deficiency
Chart Copyright ©
Golden Harvest Organics 1997-2006
All rights reserved unless otherwise attributed
Update:
03/04/06
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