Cauliflower - Growth retardation
Symptoms
Chloroses of the younger leaves are typical symptoms of Fe deficiency:
In the initial phase of symptom development the leaf laminas become chlorotic, while the leaf veins remain green.
Ongoing lack of Fe causes growth depression of roots and overhead plant parts without any leaf deformation.
Causes
Iron deficiency
(Photo: Chinese cabbage)
Iron deficiency at cauliflower occurs very seldom in practice.
Uptake of Fe is hindered by high pH, high soil content of Cu, Cd, Ni or P and by water logging.
Symptoms are similar to Manganese deficiency.
Iron deficiency made worse by
- High pH
- Water logged soils
- Calcareous soils
- High copper, manganese or zinc soils
Iron is important for
- Early leaf development and crop productivity
- Needed in relatively large amounts
