Essential for chlorophyll formation and synthesis of proteins and
several metabolic reactions.
Crops and Soils Susceptible to Iron Deficiency
Horticultural crops, particularly perennials, and fruit crops are
most commonly susceptible to iron deficiency. This is of commercial
importance in fruit trees like apple, pear, apricot, cherry, plum,
lemon, orange, lime and mandarin; in berries like strawberry and
grape, and in vegetables like tomato, cucumber and bean. Other crops
susceptible to iron deficiency include roses, ornamentals and arable
crops such as cotton, cereals and soybean. Iron has to be applied to
most high productive crops under arid and semi-arid conditions and
always in green houses and soil less media for productive and
economic growth.Soils susceptible to iron deficiency are primarily alkaline and
calcareous. These soils may be rich in iron but most of it is not
available to the plants. Other soils poor in iron and where iron
deficiencies might occur are highly leached soils and soils in areas
with a low level of iron in the mother material.
Effects of Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency starts with interveinal yellowing. The deficiencies
of Fe and Mg (magnesium) are somewhat similar as both are
characterized by a failure in chlorophyll production. Iron
deficiency, however, unlike Mg deficiency always begins to show in
the younger leaves. Mn (manganese) deficiency, on the other hand,
demonstrates a more spotted appearance of yellow/white spots against
the green leaf color.
Symptoms of Iron (Fe) deficiency:
Chlorosis, yellowish spots on leaves, spreading until the
leaf becomes almost white.
Premature leaf fall.
Reduced production of new fruit bearing branches.
Small, woody textured, flavorless fruit.
Die back of new growth.
Stunting
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