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POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR PLANT NUTRIENT LEVELS BELOW OR ABOVE THE SUFFICIENCY RANGE
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NITROGEN (N)
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Below Sufficiency Range
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Above Sufficiency Range
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Inadequate nitrogen fertilization
Low nitrification rate or perhaps denitrification
Excessive leaching of nitrates
Low soil phosphorus level
Drought
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Excessive nitrogen fertilization
High rate of nitrification at the time sample was taken
Shortage of other elements
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PHOSPHORUS (P)
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Low soil phosphorus level or inadequate phosphorus fertilization
Wet soils
Low soil temperatures, especially early season
Low soil pH (<5.5) or high soil pH (>7.2)
Drought
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High soil phosphorus level or excessive application of phosphate fertilizers
Excessive application of animal manures
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POTASSIUM (K)
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Low soil potassium level or inadequate potassium fertilization
Excessive nitrogen application
Cold wet soils
Drought
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High soil potassium level or excessive application of potassium fertilizers
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CALCIUM (Ca)
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Low soil calcium level (can be due to low soil pH or highly leached low exchange capacity soils
High soil potassium levels or heavy application of potassium fertilizers
High soil nitrogen availability
Drought
Nematode damage
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Diseased or dead tissue
Old plant tissue
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MAGNESIUM (Mg)
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Low soil magnesium level
Low soil pH
Contiunuous use of hi-calcium lime on marginally low magensium soils
High soil potassium levels or application of potassium fertilizers
High nitrogen application rates
Cold wet soils especially early in the growing season
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Diseased or dead tissue
Old plant tissue
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SULFUR (S)
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Low available soil sulfur level
Excessive amounts of nitrogen on low organic matter soils
Inadequate sulfur fertilization or excessive leaching of sulfates
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Excessive available soil sulfate level from natural or applied sources
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BORON (B)
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Low availability due to high soil pH, highly leached sandy soils, or low organic matter soils
Imporper boron fertilization
High nitrogen fertilization
Drought
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Excessive or improper boron fertilization
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COPPER (Cu)
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Low soil availability resulting form high soil pH, high organic matter content, high concentrations of iron or manganese or highly leached coarse
textured soils
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High soil copper content resulting from previous applications of copper-based fungicides or from continued use of high copper containing animal
manures
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IRON (Fe)
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High soil pH
Excessive zinc, phosphate, copper or manganese availability
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Reduced soil conditions from very wet or flooded soils
Zinc deficiency
Soil or dust contamination on leaves
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MANGANESE (Mn)
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Naturally low soil manganese levels
Low availability due to high soil pH (6.3 or above on very sandy or Atlantic flatwood soils; 6.5 or above on other soils) high organic matter
soils, high soil moisture, and very low organic matter soils
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High nitrogen or phosphorus applications on acid low organic matter soils
Low soil pH
Soil or dust contamination on leaf surface
Contamination from long term use of Mn-based fungicides
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ZINC (Zn)
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Low soil zinc content
Low soil availability due to highly leached soils, high soil pH, high available soil phosphorus levels, cut areas with low organic matter contet,
and certain muck soils
Cool wet growing conditions especially during early growth stages
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High soil zinc levels (e.g. long term use of Zn on corn; corn grown on old peach or pecan groves; application of certain by-products)
Contamination from brass or galvanized equipment
High copper and manganese soil levels
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ALUMINUM (Al)
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Cannot be deficient. Not an essential element
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Low soil pH
Reduced conditions associated with wet or flooded soils
Soil or dust contamination on leaves
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