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Potassium
deficiency |
| Potassium
deficiency is
indicated by brown and or yellow scorching (chlorosis)
around the edges of leaves.
Brown to purple spots may appear on the
underside of leaves. Flowers may be dull and sparse, and fruit yield may be
low and of poor quality. Tissues are soft and susceptible
to attack from pests. Potassium
deficiency is most common on light, sandy soils. |
| Often, potassium deficiency symptoms first appear on older (lower) leaves because potassium is a mobile nutrient, meaning that a plant can allocate potassium to younger leaves when it is potassium
deficient. |
| In potatoes, tuber size is much reduced and crop yield is low. The leaves of the plant appear dull and are often blue-green in
colour with intervenal chlorosis. Leaves will also develop small, dark brown spots on the undersides and a bronzed appearance on the upper surfaces. |
| Apples
- Fruits taste acidic, leaves scorched around
the edges. |
| Tomatoes
- Slow growing with blue/green leaves. Uneven
fruit ripening. |
| Brassicas
- Blue/green hard leaves with scorching along the outside edges. |
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Prevention and cure can be achieved in the shorter term by adding potassium-specific fertilizer, often called
sulphate of potash.
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Nitrogen
deficiency |
| Nitrogen
deficiency is
indicated by poor, stunted growth with pale leaves and
weak stems. Leaves often turn orange, red or purplish
and may fall prematurely. |
| Fruit trees and vegetables are
most commonly affected. |
| Nitrogen deficiency in plants can occur when organic matter with high carbon carbon content, such as sawdust, is added to
soil. Soil organisms use any nitrogen to break down carbon sources, making
Nitrogen unavailable to the plants. |
| All vegetables apart from nitrogen fixing legumes are prone to this disorder. |
| The feed used by professionals and leading growers. These feeds give you the satisfaction of producing plants of the highest possible standard.
Early season feeding: Chempak formula 2 has high nitrogen content (the stem and leaf maker) which boosts growth. This makes it particularly useful for the start of the season, getting plants off to a strong start. |
| Most flowering plants and root vegetables should be changed to higher potash and phosphate feeds as growth progresses. Chempak Number's 3, 4 or 8 are ideal. |
| Normal Strength use: Dissolve 2 level measures of crystals in 5 litres (approx 1 gallon) of water and apply to your plants every 7 to 10 days. Ensure the soil or compost is well moistened.
For more frequent use: Experts prefer to use dilute feed more often. Dissolve 1 level measure in 10 litres (approx 2 gallons) of water and apply at every watering. |
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Magnesium
deficiency |
| Magnesium
deficiency is a plant disorder that occurs most often in acidic,
light, sandy soils, where magnesium can be
easily leached away. |
| Symptoms
are
indicated by yellow patches between the leaf veins which
later turn brown. The affected leaves may wither. |
| Magnesium has an important role in photosynthesis because it forms the central atom of
chlorophyll. Therefore, without sufficient amounts of magnesium, plants begin to degrade the chlorophyll in the old leaves. This causes the main symptom of magnesium deficiency, chlorosis, or yellowing between leaf veins, which stay green, giving the leaves a marbled appearance |
| Adding Epsom salts
to the soil can rectify magnesium deficiencies. |
| Roses
and tomatoes are often affected. |
| Size:
1kg. Area Treated: 59m2. Nurtients: 10%
Magnesium. Recommended Uses: Improving soil,
preventing yellowing of leaves. Feeding
Recommendations: Improving soil 17gms/m2,
correcting magnesium deficiencies 70gms/9
litres. Advice: Do not spray in sunny
conditions. |
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Manganese
and Iron
deficiency |
| Manganese (Mn) deficiency is a plant disorder that is often confused with, and occurs with, iron deficiency. Most common in poorly drained soils, also where organic matter levels are high. Manganese may be unavailable to plants where pH is high. |
| Affected plants include onion, apple, peas, French beans, cherry and raspberry, and symptoms include yellowing of leaves with smallest leaf veins remaining green to produce a ‘chequered’ effect. |
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The plant may seem to grow away from the problem so that younger leaves may appear to be unaffected. Brown spots may appear on leaf surfaces, and severely affected leaves turn brown and wither.
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Murphy
Sequestrene Plant Tonic soluble chelated
iron tonic for acid-loving ericaceous
plants. Improves colour and vigour of all
plants because it cures iron deficiency.
Provides iron - in a chelated form so that
it can be easily absorbed through roots and
leaves irrespective of soil alkalinity or
acidity. Application allows lime-hating
plants to be grown in alkaline soil.
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