Results of 2006 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest

Here are the results of judging of entries in the 2006 nutrient deficiency photo contest sponsored by PPI. “We appreciate the efforts of all who submitted entries,” said Dr. Paul Fixen, PPI Senior Vice President and Americas Group Coordinator. “While the classic symptoms of crop nutrient deficiencies are not as common in fields as they used to be, they do still occur. Winning entries this year came primarily from university researchers working under controlled conditions. However, we hope that as the popularity of this contest increases, we will receive more qualifying entries from practitioners in the field.” New contest information will be available in early 2007.

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).

Hi resolution file (912 K)

Second Place
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.

Hi resolution file (600 K)

Hi resolution file (814 K)

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.

Hi resolution file (474 K)

Hi resolution file (382 K)

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.

Hi resolution file (890 K)

Hi resolution file (1.9 Mb)

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.

Hi resolution file (2.3 Mb)

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.

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 Hi resolution file (897 K)

K deficient soybeans submitted by Bobby R. Golden University of Arkansas Hi resolution file (1.7 Mb)	K deficient cotton Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University Hi resolution file (681 K)
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 Hi resolution file (893 K)	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 Hi resolution file (1.7 Mb)
K deficient soybeans Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University Hi resolution file (832 K)	K deficient soybeans Charles C. Mitchell Auburn University Hi resolution file (682 K)
K deficient corn Dr. Stephen A. Ebelhar University of Illinois Dixon Springs Ag. Center Hi resolution file (532 K)	K deficient corn Dr. Stephen A. Ebelhar University of Illinois Dixon Springs Ag. Center Hi resolution file (536 K)

Other Nutrients: B, Mn, Zn, Ca

B deficient soybeans submitted by Bobby R. Golden University of Arkansas Hi resolution file (1.66 Mb)	B deficient soybeans submitted by Bobby R. Golden University of Arkansas Hi resolution file (2.24 Mb)
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 Hi resolution file (865 K)	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 Hi resolution file (905 K)
Mn deficient soybeans submitted by Ronald J. Gehl Michigan State University Hi resolution file (1.71 Mb)	Mn deficient soybeans submitted by Ronald J. Gehl Michigan State University Hi resolution file (704 K)
Zn deficient corn submitted by Tim Boring Michigan State University Hi resolution file (248 K)	Ca deficient apple submitted by Terry A. Tindall J.R. Simplot Company Hi resolution file (775 K)