Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Lesson 2: Deficiency Symptoms of Primary Nutrients

Unit 2: Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

After completing this Unit, you should be able to answer:1. Why phosphorus deficiency symptoms are

observed only in the very early stages chili pepper crop?

2. Under what conditions phosphorus deficiency results in chili pepper ?

3. Describe the leaf symptoms due to phosphorus deficiency in chili pepper ?

4. How the chili pepper plants look in phosphorus deficient field?

Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Lesson 2: Deficiency Symptoms of Primary Nutrients

Unit 2: Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

There will be greater demand for phosphorus during the very early stages of crop growth.

Hence, phosphorus deficiency symptoms are more pronounced in young plants.

Therefore, the plants should be examined for phosphorus deficiency during the early stages of crop growth.

Note stunted growth and purple pigmentation on leaves.

Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Lesson 2: Deficiency Symptoms of Primary Nutrients

Unit 2: Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

Severe deficiencies of phosphorus are usually characterized by stunted growth of plants and dark red or purple coloration develop on the sheaths and blades of older leaves.

Note the stunted plant with the purple leaves.

Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Lesson 2: Deficiency Symptoms of Primary Nutrients

Unit 2: Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

The degree of red or purple pigmentation varies from cultivar to cultivar. Some cultivars develop very little red or purple pigmentation.

Note the thinner stems and the purple sheaths of the deficient plants (center and right) compared the healthy one (left)

Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Lesson 2: Deficiency Symptoms of Primary Nutrients

Unit 2: Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

Some cultivars develop an additional symptom on their young mature leaves; a pale purple, interveinal shed develops on one or both sides of the mid-vein about halfway along the leaf blade.

Note the purple interveinal shed on the deficient leaf (right).

Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Lesson 2: Deficiency Symptoms of Primary Nutrients

Unit 2: Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms

With this, the Unit 2 on Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms in this Lesson concludes.

The last Unit in this Lesson is about potassium deficiency symptoms in chili pepper.

In Lesson 3, you will learn about deficiency symptoms of secondary nutrients.