Phosphorus deficiency

Constraint - Phosphorus 

Plant use

• Phosphorus is a macronutrient

• Phosphorus has a key role in energy storage and transfer

• As such is essential for all growth processes 

Symptoms 

• Poor growth/stunted plants,

• Weak roots and shoots and fewer tillers

• Blueish/purple leaves

• Older leaves affected first

Damage

• Yield penalty can be severe if deficiency is great and left untreated

• in severe cases the plant may die

Management

A soil test or a plant tissue test should be used to confirm phosphorus deficiency. It can be controlled by applying phosphorus fertilisers and by ensuring that the soil pH is above 6 to increase soil P available for plants.

 

Links and Resources

DEPI VIC - A Nutrient Review of Phosphorus in Wheat 20 page PDF. 'Phosphorous as a nutrient for wheat in southern Australia'. Extensive nutrient review. Written 2013. File size: 759kb

DEPI VIC - What nutrients do plants require? 6.3.2. Plant use, deficiency symptoms, and the Phosphorus cycle. Page last updated 2013. File size: 759kb

DPI NSW - Phosphorus nutrition for winter crops Pages 3-5. Plant use, deficiency symptoms, and factors affecting crop response. Published 2003. File size: 759kb

DPI NSW - Soil Sense Leaflet Deficiency symptoms, fertilisers, phosphorus behaviour in soil, uptake problems, and methods to increase uptake. Published 2002. File size: 759kb

SARDI - Nutrition Management in Broadacre Cropping. Phosphorus 5 page PDF. Information on macronutrients, micronutrients, deficiency symptoms, and management. File size: 759kb