What do the symptoms of mineral deficiency in plants depend on?

The symptoms of mineral deficiency in plants are closely linked to the mobility of the nutrient within the plant. Nutrients that are highly mobile can be transported from older tissues to newer tissues when deficiencies occur, leading to symptoms primarily in older leaves as they are sacrificed to support the growth of younger leaves. For example, nitrogen, being a mobile nutrient, will cause older leaves to yellow first when the plant is deficient.

On the other hand, nutrients that are less mobile tend to cause deficiencies that manifest in newer growth because they cannot be relocated from older plant parts. For instance, a deficiency in calcium typically results in symptoms on new leaves and growing points because calcium does not move easily from older tissues.

Understanding the mobility of these nutrients allows growers and researchers to effectively identify which minerals are lacking based on the patterns of leaf discoloration or other symptoms that appear. This insight is essential for diagnosing plant nutrient deficiencies accurately and implementing effective interventions.