Manganese deficiency

Constraint – Manganese 

Plant use

• Manganese is a micronutrient

• Manganese is a catalyst in plant-growth processes, is essential for rapid germination, and plays a role in enzyme systems

Symptoms 

• Chlorosis between the veins of young leaves

• Areas of dead tissue may fall from the leaf, causing a ragged appearance

• Reduced flower formation

• Stunted growth

Damage

• If deficiency is severe, the plant may die

• Yield penalty can occur if left untreated

Management

A soil test or a plant tissue test should be used to confirm manganese deficiency. Application of magnesium sulphate and maintenance of soil pH below 7 will act to increase the available manganese in the soil.

Toxicity

Although rare, manganese toxicity can occur in acid soils inherently high in manganese. Soil compaction and waterlogging can produce manganese toxicity in plants. Manganese toxicity can be reduced by working lime into the soil to a depth of 100 to 150 mm and by correcting waterlogging and soil compaction.

 

Links and Resources

DAFWA - Manganese deficiency General information on manganese, what to look for in the paddock and the plant, what else it could be, where it occcurs, treatment, and monitoring.

DEPI VIC - What nutrients do plants require? Manganese 6.4.4. Plant use, symptoms of deficiency and toxicity, animal health implications, and control. Page last updated 2013.

SARDI - Nutrition Management in Broadacre Cropping. Manganese 5 page PDF. Information on macronutrients, micronutrients, deficiency symptoms, and management.