Nutrient Guide
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(N) Nitrogen - (P) Phosphorus - (S) Sulfur - (Ca) Calcium - (Mg) Magnesium - (K) Potassium
(Fe) Iron - (Cu) Copper - (Zn) Zinc - (B) Boron - (Mn) Manganese - (Mo) Molybdenum

(N) Nitrogen

• Vital building block for amino acids, protein and plant protoplasm;

• Critical for flower differentiation, rapid shoot growth, bud vigor and fruit set;

• Acts as a catalyst for other nutrients; 

• Increases size and quality of fruit.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Smaller fruit size, lower yields;

• Reduced vegetative growth;

• Older foliage shows yellowing first, then the rest turns a yellowish-green;

• High levels result in lower quality, delayed coloring, soft fruit, poor storage life and low juice content.

Sources

• BioGro fertilizers, blended organic fertilizers, other fish based protein products;

• Blood meal, feather meal, other animal protein meals;

• Alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, canola meal, other vegetable meals;

• Chicken manure, steer manure, other manure composts.

(P) Phosphorus

• Promotes root, flower and seed development;

• transfers and stores energy;

• Formation of nucleic acids and RNA and DNA;

• Hastens maturity.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Delayed maturity;

• Leaf dieback;

• Poor seed development, possible fruit quality problems;

• Purple coloration in older leaves, stems and veins.

Sources

• BioGro fertilizers, blended organic fertilizers containing phosphate;

• Bone meal, hard rock phosphate, soft rock phosphate;

• Chicken manure composts, other manure composts rich in phosphate.

(S) Sulfur

• A component of amino acids and proteins;

• Promotes growth and maturity;

• A flavor component;

• Necessary for protein and plant oil synthesis.

Deficiency Symptoms

• New leaves are pale green to yellow;

• Plants are small and stunted;

• Delayed maturity.

Sources

• BioGro fertilizers, blended organic fertilizers containing sulfate;

• Sulfur (elemental);

• Sulfate compounds (Gypsum, Potassium Sulfate, K-Mag, Epsom Salts MgSO4).

(Ca) Calcium

• Helps regulate nutrient uptake by roots and movement through the plant;

• Aids in cell wall formation and structure;

• Important for cell membrane integrity;

• Necessary for the development of firm fruit.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Deformed terminal leaves and fruit;

• Dead terminal buds;

• External and internal disorders of fruits and vegetables;

• Premature shedding of buds and blossoms;

• Poor root development.

Sources

• BioGro fertilizers, blended organic fertilizers containing calcium;

• Bone meal;

• Gypsum, lime, dolomite;

• rock phosphate.

(Mg) Magnesium

• Essential for chlorophyll synthesis and nitrogen metabolism;

• enzyme activator;

• Helps formation of amino acids, vitamins, sugars, oils and fats.

Deficiency Symptoms 

• Chlorotic leaves with brilliant colors appearing in older leaves first;

• Drooping leaves;

• Overall yellowing with green veins;

• Necrotic spots on leaves;

• Excessive premature fruit drop.

Sources

• K-Mag;

• Epsom Salts - MgSO4 (Kieserite);

• Dolomite lime.

(K) Potassium

• Necessary for the formation of sugars, proteins and cell division;

• Essential for oil formation;

• Enzyme activator;

• Improves cold hardiness;

• Improves fruit color.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Marginal leaf scorch on older foliage, distorted, curled and premature drop;

• Irregular blotching pattern in late season;

• Poorly developed root system;

• Distorting and curling of leaves.

Sources

• BioGro fertilizers, blended organic fertilizers containing potassium;

• Kelp meal, greensand, K-Mag, Potassium Sulfate;

• Chicken manure composts, other manure composts rich in potash;

• Wood chip, sawdust, composts.

(Fe) Iron

• Aids in energy transfer;

• Required for chlorophyll formation;

• Activator for enzymes that control respiration;

• Important chloroplast and enzyme component.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Availability decreases as pH increases;

• High phosphorus will induce iron deficiency;

• Young leaves develop chlorotic symptoms;

• Severe deficiency results in stunted growth;

• A moderate deficiency results in poor quality and yield;

• Early and later season paling in leaf color;

• Chlorosis unevenly distributed in trees.

Sources

• Iron Sulfate;

• Milorganite;

• Blood meal;

• Iron Chelate (Metalosate).

(Cu) Copper

• Critical in the role of photosynthesis;

• Necessary for seed and chlorophyll formation;

• Component of several enzymes;

• Contributes to color and flavor development in fruits and vegetables.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Availability decreases as pH increases but more closely associated with organic matter content;

• Leaf margin yellowing (chlorosis);

• Shoot dieback;

• Dead spots and burn areas on terminal leaves;

• Stunted growth, undersized fruit;

• Severe deficiency results in tip necrosis;

• Moderate deficiency, reduced growth and yield.

Sources

• Copper sulfate;

• Copper hydroxide;

• Copper Chelate (Metalosate).

(Zn) Zinc

• Needed for the synthesis of growth hormones and protein;

• Essential for uniform maturity and seed formation;

• Aids in chloroplast formation and internodal and cell elongation.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Availability decreases as pH increases;

• Stunted growth;

• Small malformed leaves with yellow or mottled color;

• Striping in grasses;

• Twig dieback;

• Chlorotic interveinal mottling in new growth.

Sources

• Zinc sulfate;

• Zinc Chelate (Metalosate).

(B) Boron 

• Essential for reproduction;

• Aids in formation of hormones;

• Maintains balance between sugar and starch.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Availability decreases on fin-textured, heavy clay soils;

• Death of terminal growth;

• Leaves are thickened, curled and brittle;

• Poor fruit and seed set, reduced flowering;

• Tubers, fruits and roots may become discolored, cracked and have brown spots.

Sources

• Fertilizer borate;

• Granubor;

• Solubor;

• Liquid boron;

• Boric Acid.

(Mn) Manganese

• Aids in nitrogen utilization and assimilation;

• Assimilated CO2 in photosynthesis;

• Essential for phosphorus and magnesium uptake;

• Important in oxidation-reduction reactions;

• Aids in chlorophyll synthesis.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Availability decreases as pH increases, at 6.3 and above Mn becomes insoluble; 

• Chlorosis appears first on old leaves, then on new growth;

• rust spots or mottled pattern on many plants;

• Some crop stunting.

Sources

• Manganese sulfate;

• Manganese Chelate (Metalosate).

(Mo) Molybdenum

• Essential for nitrogen fixation by legumes;

• Vital in protein synthesis;

• Vital for the reduction of nitrates.

Deficiency Symptoms

• Availability increases as pH increases.

Sources

• Molybdenum sulfate;

• Liming the soil may cause the release of (Mo) in acidic soils.