15 Oct 2006
Results of the 2006 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest
Results of 2006 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest
Here are the results of judging of entries in the 2006 nutrient deficiency photo contest. Following are images and descriptions of the first and second place entries in the four designated categories of the 2006 contest: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Other (secondary nutrients, micronutrients, pH, etc).
Nitrogen
Nitrogen deficiency in corn.
Location: Peanut Belt Research Station, Bertie County, North Carolina. Corn planted April 12, 2006; photo date June 16, 2006. Tissue analysis May 22 indicated N at 2.98%.
Entry by Dr. Carl R. Crozier, North Carolina State University; David Hardy and Brenda Cleveland, North Carolina Dept. of Agric. and Consumer Services, Agronomic Division.
Nitrogen deficiency in corn.
Location: University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Princeton.
Photo date August 5, 2003, at N study plots. Plants on left received no N, plants on the right received 150 lb N/A at planting.
Entry by Dr. Greg Schwab, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus deficiency in corn.
Location: Peanut Belt Research Station, Bertie County, North Carolina. Corn planted April 12, 2006; photo date June 16, 2006. Growth stage V-9. Tissue analysis May 22 indicated P at 0.12%.
Entry by Dr. Carl R. Crozier, North Carolina State University; David Hardy and Brenda Cleveland, North Carolina Dept. of Agric. and Consumer Services, Agronomic Division.
Second Place
Phosphorus deficiency in cotton.
Location: Peanut Belt Research Station, Bertie County, North Carolina. Cotton planted May 3, 2006; photo date July 13, 2006, one week after first bloom. Tissue samples June 28 indicated P at 0.20%.
Entry by Dr. Carl R. Crozier, North Carolina State University; David Hardy, Brenda Cleveland, and Catherine Stokes, North Carolina Dept. of Agric. and Consumer Services, Agronomic Division.
Potassium
Potassium deficiency in soybean.
Location: Simpson, Illinois; Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, University of Illinois. Photo at early pod set, in check plot of long-term study. The K soil test was 100 parts per million (ppm) at beginning of study; deficiency symptoms began to appear in recent years.
Entry by Dr. Stephen A. Ebelhar, University of Illinois.
Second Place
Potassium deficiency in corn.
Location: Peanut Belt Research Station, Bertie County,
North Carolina. Corn planted April 12, 2006; photo date June 16, 2006. Tissue analysis may 22 indicated K at 0.81%.
Entry by Dr. Carl R. Crozier, North Carolina State University; David Hardy and Brenda Cleveland, North Carolina Dept. of Agric. and Consumer Services, Agronomic Division.
Other
Manganese (Mn) deficiency in soybean.
Location: Craighead County, Arkansas. Photo date July 5, 2006, growth stage V6 to V7. Grown on a Mhoon fine sandy loam with a water pH of 7.2 and soil organic matter of 1.9% in top 4 in. Soil test Mn was 0.7 ppm (M3) and plant tissue Mn was 4.8 ppm. Note the green veins and chlorotic leaves on the Mn-deficient plants.
Entry by Bobby R. Golden, Russ Delong, and Dr. Nathan Slaton, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Second Place
Sulfur (S) deficiency in canola.
Location: Langdon Research and Education Center, North Dakota. Photo date June 19, 2006. Comparison of S based P fertilizer to no S applied; most recently expanded leaf comparison from adjoining plots. Research plots of John Lukach.
Entry by Dr. Terry A. Tindall, J.R. Simplot Company, Boise, Idaho.
Summing Up
These photos serve as excellent examples that can be used as references in the field. However, when deficiency symptoms do occur, irreparable yield losses have occurred. Tissue analyses are invaluable for confirming visual deficiency symptoms or for detecting “hidden hunger”, when nutrient levels are too low but no symptoms have yet appeared. We hope this contest increases the awareness of proper nutrition and look forward to more great entries next year.
Here are some of the other excellent entries that were received.
Nitrogen
N deficient cotton submitted by Carl R. Crozier, David Hardy & Brenda Cleveland North Carolina State University Soil Science Dept North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services |  |
Potassium
K deficient soybeans submitted by Bobby R. Golden University of Arkansas | K deficient cotton Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University |
K deficient soybeans submitted by Carl R. Crozier, David Hardy & Brenda Cleveland North Carolina State University Soil Science Dept North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | K deficient cotton submitted by Carl R. Crozier, David Hardy & Brenda Cleveland North Carolina State University Soil Science Dept North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services |
K deficient soybeans Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University | K deficient soybeans Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University |
K deficient corn Dr. Stephen A. Ebelhar University of Illinois Dixon Springs Ag. Center | K deficient corn Dr. Stephen A. Ebelhar University of Illinois Dixon Springs Ag. Center |
Other Nutrients: B, Mn, Zn, Ca
B deficient soybeans submitted by Bobby R. Golden University of Arkansas | B deficient soybeans submitted by Bobby R. Golden University of Arkansas |
Mn deficient peanuts submitted by Carl R. Crozier, David Hardy & Brenda Cleveland North Carolina State University Soil Science Dept North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | Mn deficient cotton submitted by Carl R. Crozier, David Hardy & Brenda Cleveland North Carolina State University Soil Science Dept North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services |
Mn deficient soybeans submitted by Ronald J. Gehl Michigan State University | Mn deficient soybeans submitted by Ronald J. Gehl Michigan State University ) |
Zn deficient corn submitted by Tim Boring Michigan State University | Ca deficient apple submitted by Terry A. Tindall J.R. Simplot Company |