Phosphorous
Symptoms of Phosphorous Deficiency
- Reduced Growth
- Sometimes stunted and only evident from shortened internodes, smaller leaves, reduced shoot growth
- Dark green colour in some crops
- Purpled leaves in some crops
- Reduced tillering in cereals
- Small, misshapen fruit. Can be pulpy with poor storage life
- Poor seed development
Function
- Necessary for proper cell division and the formation of new cells
- Photosynthesis
- Sugar and starch formation
- Energy transfer
- Carbohydrate transport
Treatment Options
Apply a good fertility program in the soil with enough Phosphorous to fulfill the needs on the crop grown and targeted yield goals. Complement with a foliar program containing high percentage of Phosphorous especially early in the season when the conditions are wet and cold or if the crops is experiencing a drought. Apply Phosphorous as well when the crop is switching from vegetative to reproductive stage. Light textured soils, sandy soils, alkaline or heavy limed soils, acidic soil rich in Aluminum and/or Iron reduce availability of Phosphorous. Also, waterlogged conditions create high demand on Phosphorous.