Iron deficiency is characterized by leaf chlorosis, a discoloration of leaves.
There are approximately 16 elements required to keep a plant healthy and functioning properly. Among the most important is iron, a mineral that plays a vital role in food production. The cause of iron deficiency is rarely due to lack of iron in the soil. Most often, it is a direct result of poor iron uptake, which may be due to a number of factors. Visual cues will be the most important factor in determining iron deficiency.
Importance of Iron
Iron is a key ingredient of carrying out important plant functions. Chief among these are enzyme and chlorophyll production, which creates the green color of leaves and makes photosynthesis possible. Without iron, chlorophyll production decreases, which affects the ability of the plant to make food. Additionally, iron deficiency will cause a decrease in nitrogen fixation, which is detrimental to food production. Overall development and metabolism are also severely affected, leading to a plant that doesn't function as well as it should, which, if left untreated, may result in plant death.
Leaf Chlorosis
The symptom of iron deficiency is going to be a visual change in the plant. Leaf chlorosis is a yellowing of the leaves. The yellowing associated with iron deficiency will generally start at the tips and progress inward, leaving veins green. This pattern of change is key in determining that iron is deficient, since this is unique to that mineral. Other shortages will produce color changes that affect the leaves and veins, and discoloration occurs more uniformly and almost all at once. Chlorosis will attack new growth first, and if left untreated will move on to old leaves.
Additional Symptoms
Other symptoms of iron deficiency may be a bit ambiguous. Among the most common are poor overall growth and premature leaf loss. These are also common symptoms of other diseases, and are direct results of poor nutrition. These problems may also occur when other minerals are low, or if overwatering has occurred. It is when these symptoms occur in conjunction with leaf chlorosis that a diagnosis of iron deficiency may be made.
Treatment
An iron deficiency is rarely the result of too little iron in the soil. Instead, it is most commonly the result of poor iron absorption brought on by difficult soil conditions. Among the most common problems are a soil pH that is too high, excessive clay or phosphorous in the soil, or simply too much water and compaction. Adding peat moss or an acidifying fertilizer will fix a pH problem, while adding a bit of well-decomposed organic matter will aid in fixing heavy clay soil. This compost must be worked into the soil, and may take a few weeks to work. Decreasing phosphorus using a low-phosphorus fertilizer will bring a better balance to the soil and will aid in improving the plant's uptake of iron. Compacted or poorly draining soil is detrimental to root systems, and may be difficult to repair. Over-wet soil means poor drainage, which may be repaired by adding a bit of organic matter, lightening the soil, reducing compaction and improving drainage. If this is ineffective, gardeners may add subsurface draining tiles that will pull excess water away from the plant.
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