Garden Soil Nutrition

Soil Nutrition

Primary
Nutrients
Function DeficiencySymptoms *Solutions
Nitrogen Vigorous growth & dark green color Light green leaves; stunted growth
Dried Blood, Garden
Manure, Cottonseed Meal, Ammonium Sulfate, Urea
Phosporus Root development &
flowering
Smaller yields of Seeds &
fruit; purplish leaves, stems & branches;
Rock Phosphate, Bone
Meal, Single Super
Phosphate, Triple Super
Phosphate
Potassium Overall hardiness &
disease resistance
Reduced yields; Spotted or curled leaves; Weak root system Sulfate of Potash, Sulfate
of Potash Magnesia,
Muriate of Potash,
Greensand
Secondary
Nutrients
Function Deficiency Symptoms *Solutions
Calcium Plant vigor; Aids in
uptake of nutrients
Deformed terminal leaves; Poor root growth Garden Lime, Garden
Gypsum
Magnesium Essential part of
chlorophyll
Yellowing of older leaves Garden Lime, Sulfate of
Potash Magnesia
Sulfur Dark green color;
Seed production
Yellow leaves; Stunted,
spindly plants
Garden Sulfur, Sulfate
of Potash, Gypsum
Trace
Nutrients
Function Deficiency Symptoms
Boron Increases flowering
& fruit development
Terminal buds die; Less
flowers & fruit develop
Garden Manure, Bone Meal
Chlorine Helps control water loss & moisture stress Plants wilt; yellow leaves Muriate of Potash, Garden Manure, Greensand
Cobalt Improves growth &
transpiration
Reduced growth and
yellowing of foliage
Greensand, Kelp, Cottonseed Meal
Copper Helps produce chlorophyll Yellow, wilted leaves;
Lack of flowering
Garden Manure,
Greensand
Iron Promotes dark green
leaves
Yellow leaves Greensand, Garden
Manure, Cottonseed Meal
Manganese Helps produce chlorophyll Intervenous chlorosis in
younger leaves
Garden Manure, Greensand
Molybdenum Essential in some enzyme systems Pale green, rolled or cupped leaves Greensand, Lime (makes
it more available)
Nickel Enzyme Producton Yellow Leaves Greensand
Sodium Aids water regulation & photosynthesis Plants wilt Kelp, Garden Manure,
Bone Meal, Greensand
Zinc Enzyme & growth
hormone production
Yellow leaves, Rosetted
(clustered) leaves
Garden Manure, Greensand, Cottonseed
Meal