Results of 2008 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest

Nitrogen

1st Prize: Chris Gunter, José Garzón, and Brian Whipker of North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, are credited with entering this example of N deficiency in immature lettuce. As part of their background description, they state: “These two plants are the same age, planted on the same day. Nutrient deficiency was induced by withholding nitrogen during growth. The other plant received complete nutrition.”

2nd Prize: Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada;

3rd Prize: Cacciavillani Juan Ignacio, Demeter Laboratorio, Ordoñez, Cordoba, Argentina.

Phosphorus

1st Prize: Tiequan Zhang, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, Ontario, Canada, captured this dramatic case of P deficiency in a mid-summer corn crop. Soil test P (Olsen) at the site was 5.2 mg P/kg. The crop is obviously stunted and displaying the characteristic purplish-colored lower leaf edges.

2nd Prize: S. Srinivasan, Agricultural College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam, Vallanad, India;

3rd Prize: Ch. Srinivasarao, Central Research Institute for Dry Land Agriculture, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Potassium

1st Prize: Terry Wyciskalla, Wyciskalla Consulting, Inc., Nashville, Illinois, USA, submitted this example which contrasts side-by-side rows of soybean with adequate and deficient soil K supply. According to Mr. Wyciskalla, “Poor” areas had 89 lb/A (44.5 ppm) and “Good” areas had 281 lb/A (140.5 ppm). Whole-plant tissue analysis from the poor area equaled 0.58 ppm and 1.19 ppm in the good area. “According to the Plant Analysis Handbook II by Mills and Jones, critical K level in soybean is 1.70 to 2.50 ppm K. Results show a definite deficiency in the poor area, while results from the good area are borderline deficient, but may be adequate enough to not show deficiency symptoms.”

2nd Prize: S. Srinivasan, Agricultural College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam, Vallanad, India;

3rd Prize: Nolver Atanacio Arias, Cenipalma, Barrancabermeja, Santander, Colombia.

Other

1st Prize: Shahar Dayan, Haifa Chemicals Ltd., Yoqneam Elit, Israel, shot this close-up view of Zn deficiency in 2-month old cassava (tapioca) planted in Thailand. “It’s a common phenomenon (for the region); this appearance is typical of zinc shortage, causing leaf curling, interveinal chlorosis, and auxin hormone flux disruptions.”

2nd Prize: Leandro Marciano Marra, Universidade Federal De Lavaras, Minas Gerais, Brazil;

3rd Prize: S. Srinivasan, Agricultural College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam, Vallanad, India.

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