POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR NUTRIENT ELEMENT LEVELS BELOW OR ABOVE THE SUFFICIENCY RANGE

Ohio Plant Analysis Program.

Below Sufficiency Range	Above Sufficiency Range
Nitrogen (N)
1) Inadequate N	1) Excessive application of nitrogen
2) Low soil P	2) Shortage of another element
Phosphorus (P)
1) Low soil P	1) High soil P
2) Inadequate P	2) Excessive phosphate application
3) Poor Drainage
4) Low soil pH
Potassium (K)
1) Low soil K	1) High soil K level
2) Inadequate K	2) Excessive K application
3) Heavy N application	3) Ca or Mg deficiency
Calcium (Ca)
1) Low soil pH	1) Old plant tissue
2) Low soil Ca	2) Dead or diseased tissue
3) High soil K or heavy K application
Magnesium (Mg)
1) Low soil pH	1) Old plant tissue
2) Low soil Mg	2) Dead or diseased tissue
3) High soil K or heavy K application
Manganese (Mn)
1) Neutral or alkalinesoils, peats & mucks	1) Low soil pH
	2) Heavy application of P and/or N on acid, low organic matter soils.
	3) Soil or dust contamination
Iron (Fe)
1) High soil pH	1) Soil or dust contamination
	2) Zinc deficiency
Boron (B)
1) Alkaline, sandy, or low organic matter soils	1) Improper application of boron
Copper (Cu)
1) Peats, mucks or upland light	1) Contamination from pesticide sprays or contact with brass equipment
Zinc (Zn)
1) Sands, exposed subsoils, soils high in pH & available P, mucks & some peats	1) Contamination from contact with brass or galvanized equipment
	2) Old, dead or diseased tissue
Molybdenum (Mo)
1) Acid soils, pH < 5.5	1) Potassium deficiency
	2) High soil pH