Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
After completing this Unit you should be able to
answer
1. Under what conditions zinc deficiency results in
chili pepper?
2. Describe the leaf symptoms due to zinc deficiency
in chili pepper?
3. How the chili pepper plants look in zinc deficient
field?
4. How do you identify zinc deficiency symptoms
from that of iron deficiency symptoms?
Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
Zinc (Zn) deficiency is likely to occur
•
•
•
when soils are alkaline or low in organic matter,
under high levels of soil Phosphorus, and
when the soils are cool and wet during the
vegetative phase.
Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
Sometimes zinc (Zn) may be present in the soil,
but not available to plants. A high soil pH, or a
calcareous soil means that zinc is less available (soluble).
Crops under these soil conditions may suffer from zinc
deficiency.
Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
Zinc deficiency causes the internodes
to become very short, resulting in
stunted plants.
The first symptoms on the foliage
appear on the youngest leaves even
before they unroll from the whorl.
Observe the stunted
plant and shortened
internodes.
Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
Pale yellow chlorosis develops
between the margins and mid-vein
near the base of the leaf blade.
The mid-vein and margins usually
remain green.
Observe pale yellow
chlorosis on young
leaves.
Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
Zinc and Iron deficiency
symptoms can easily be confused.
However Iron chlorosis extends to full length
of leaves (left Fig.) where as chlorosis due to
Zinc deficiency occur mainly on the lower
half of the leaves (top Fig.).
Module VI: Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Lesson 4: Deficiency Symptoms of Micronutrients
Unit 2: Zinc Deficiency Symptoms
With this, the Unit 2 on Zinc Deficiency Symptoms in chili
pepper in this Lesson concludes.
In the subsequent units in this Lesson deficiency symptoms
of other micronutrients in chili pepper are explained.