Nitrogen (N)

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Plants are pale green to yellow with chlorosis beginning on lower leaves and progressing upwards as the deficiency intensifies; plants have spindly stems and growth is slow.

Phosphorus (P)

P deficient plants have poorly developed root systems, growth is slow, stems are thin and shortened, tillering is poor, and maturity is delayed. Deficient plants may remain darker green than normal plants and develop purple discoloration first on the underside and later throughout. Leaf tips may die back when P deficiency is severe.

Potassium (K)

K deficiency is initially manifested as chlorosis on the older leaves and progresses upwards as the deficiency intensifies. The leaves eventually become streaked and take on a scorched appearance along the leaf margins.  Chlorotic areas may develop throughout the leaf. Deficiency symptoms can occur in young leaves of some fast-maturing high-yielding varieties. Stems of deficient plants are weak and tend to lodge.

Calcium (Ca)

Ca deficiency is very rare on small grains. Plants are severely stunted and new leaves exude a gelatinous like material and new leaves stick together. Because Ca deficiency is favored by low pH (<5.2) and low soil Ca, aluminum and manganese toxicity symptoms will usually be exhibited before Ca deficiency symptoms.

Magnesium (Mg)

Initially Mg deficiency is expressed as interveinal chlorosis on the older leaves and progresses upwards as the deficiency intensifies. Older leaves may become reddish-purple and the tips and margins may die. Older leaves may fall off with prolonged deficiency.

Sulfur (S)

S deficiency in wheat include: light green to yellowish colored leaves beginning on the younger leaves where there is an ample supply of N; where the N supply is low the symptoms may occur on the older leaves; plants may be spindly, stunted and maturity delayed. S deficiency may be confused with N deficiency but yellowing of S deficient plants is more pronounced than in plants with N deficiency.

Boron (B)

Deficiency symptoms in small grains include: interveinal chlorosis of youngest unfolded leaves; leaf unfolding is delayed; increased tillering may be observed and internodes can be short; flowering is altered; seed set is poor resulting in low yields.

Copper (Cu)

Deficiency symptoms in wheat are expressed as: light green color with twisted leaf tips; leaves eventually take on a bleached appearance and die and leaf curling is enhanced; growth is severely reduced.

Iron (Fe)

Deficiencies are manifested as interveinal chlorosis on the uppermost leaves; the entire length of the leaf is affected; as the deficiency intensifies the leaves may become almost white between the veins. Deficiencies occur primarily on alkaline soils (pH greater than 7.0). Low or deficient levels may be detected in plants growing on sandy soils high in P, Cu, Mn, or Zn and under cool growing conditions in early spring.

Manganese (Mn)

Manganese deficiencies are rare on small grain grown on soils with a pH of 6.0 and 6.3. Deficiencies have been observed on wheat growing on coarse-textured Coastal Plain soils with pH values above 6.3.  Deficient plants are chlorotic and greenish-gray spots develop on the older leaves (gray speck). Deficiency symptoms may eventually appear on the uppermost recently mature leaves as interveinal chlorosis (streaked) at the basal portion of the leaf while the leaf tips may remain green. Leaves intensively affected may kink or droop.

Zinc (Zn)

Zinc deficiency in wheat appears as intervenial chlorosis on the most recently developed leaves; plants are stunted and produce few tillers; if the deficiency is severe the leaves may turn white and die.