Question

Heya, new challenge : identify the mineral lack in the following leaf in the attachment and explain more about the deficiency causes and how it can be cured​

Answer 1

Answer

○ The mineral lack in this leaf is Iron.

○ Usually leaves of a plant turns into yellow colour due to Chlorosis.

○ But if it is a money plant leaf, then the cause may be due to ;

• Over watering

• Over temperature fluctuations

• Too much sunlight

Chlorosis

○ Chlorosis is the process of abnormal yellowing of leaves.

○ These occur when leaves lack their essential green pigment , chlorophyll.

○ Some causes of Chlorosis are;

• Poor drainage

• High soil pH

• Compacted roots

• Damage in roots

○ The most common nutrient problem associated with chlorosis is the lack of iron.

○ It cn also be caused to the lack of other substituent minerals like manganese, nitrogen or zinc.

○ High amounts of other elements like zinc, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, copper in soil makes iron unavailable to the plant.

○ If it is iron deficiency , then yellowing starts on young terminal leaves and later works inward to the older leaves.

○ In case of deficiencies in manganese, zinc or nitrogen, then yellowing starts on inner or older leaves first and then progresses outward the leaves.

How it can be cured ?

○ Treatment for iron deficiency varies for each plant.

○ The most better way to understand this abnormality is by knowing it's foilage source.

○ In case of money plant, if it's getting less light, then it needs less frequent watering.

○ Keep a tray of water, keep some stones or pebbles and keep it touching the water in order to provide sufficient water transfer.

○ Keep it away from direct sunlight.

○ It would be better not to keep it near windows.

○ Do not get soil overly wet.

Answer 2

The leaf in the given attachment is a leaf of the plant : MONEY PLANT.

Money plant is a flowering plant in the family of Araceae. They can thrive in full sun to partial shade conditions at both indoors and outdoors. Homegrown money plants may reach up to 2-3 feet tall that has aerial roots, heart-shaped leaves (in white, yellow or light green colors).

• For the deficiency of magnesium, the symptoms are slow growth, pale yellow leaves, dark spots on new leaf.
• For the deficiency of sulphur, the observable symptoms are stunted growth, and pale yellow color leaves.
• The most common nutrient problem associated with chlorosis is lack of iron, but yellowing may also be caused by manganese, zinc, or nitrogen deficiencies.
• All these symptoms are mainly due to the lack of sunlight, water, and minerals to the plants.

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Now, coming to the question.

About the deficiency and its causes :-

If your green plants are now yellow, chlorosis may be the issue with the tissue.

→ Abnormal yellowing of leaf tissue is called chlorosis.

→ Leaves lack the essential green pigment called chlorophyll.

→ Possible causes include poor drainage, damaged roots, compacted roots, high soil pH, and nutrient deficiencies(as discussed above).

→ Nutrient deficiencies may occur due to insufficient amount of nutrients in the soil or because the nutrients are unavailable due to high pH of soil.

→ There can be another reason too. If the roots of the plants or some tissues dedicated to that specific work of absorbing nutrients are injured, then still, nutrient deficiency occurs.

→ In addition, chlorotic leaves(leaves having the problem of chlorosis) are more prone to scorching and leaf diseases. This can even lead to the death of the plant.

→ Due to these stunted leaves, the plant may fail to produce fruits.

Cure :-

Treatment for chlorosis varies depending on the plant and the cause.

• Core aerification, tiling, mulching, or some other cultural practices may be needed.

• Get a soil test to determine soil pH and nutrient levels. Iron becomes more insoluble and less available to plants as soil pH goes above 6.5 to 6.7 [7.0-neutral; below 7.0-acidic; above 7.0-alkaline].

• High amounts of other elements such as calcium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, or copper in the soil can make iron unavailable to the plant. A shortage of potassium in the plant will also reduce iron availability. Insufficient iron in the soil may also be the cause. Based on a soil test, the pH can be lowered by adding sulfur or the appropriate nutrients can be applied.

The above points are the possible ways for curing the plant from its deficiency, at home.