NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS IN ALFALFA

Nitrogen

- deficiency due to poor nodulation
- plant is stunted and has a light green ap-pearance, rounded leaflets w/yellowing on tips
- firing on lower leaves first, develops into necrosis (brown tissue), eventually leaves will fall off (abscise)

Phosphorus

- plants are dark green, spindly and stunted
- petioles and leaflets are tilted upward, lower leaves may show firing
- stems may turn red
- reduced nodulation

Potassium

- stunted plants
- yellow to white spots along leaf tips and margins

Calcium

- delayed emergence of primary leaves which when emerged may appear cup shaped, and necrotic
- chlorotic bands appear around the rest of the leaves
- terminal buds deteriorate and petioles break down

Magnesium

- interveinal chlorosis in which the base and lower center of the leaf are not affected.
- downward curling of leaf margins and yellowing from the margin inward

Sulfur

- leaves including veins turn pale green to yellow
- young leaves are affected first
- terminal buds remain alive

Manganese

- interveinal chlorosis (not always distinct), buds remain alive
- spots of dead tissue appear on the leaves

Iron

- interveinal chlorosis, buds remain alive
- sharp color contrast between veins and the leaf
- spots of dead tissue appear on the leaves

Boron

- stunted growth, distortions at the tips or base of young leaves, terminal bud is dead.
- leaves near the growing point are yellowed and sometimes reddened, while lower leaves appear healthy (sometimes confused with "hopper burn")
- internodes are shortened, stems cracked, buds can be absent, distorted, light brown in color or dead
- pink to whitish-yellow spots at leaf base

Copper

- young leaves may wilt, wither and shed without appearing chlorotic

Zinc

- growth is stunted
- interveinal chlorosis, brown spots, and dead tissue

Molybdenum

- see nitrogen deficiency (same deficiency symptoms)