| Mineral Nutrient | Deficiency Symptom | Mobile in Plant? |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | Chlorosis of older leaves first; stunted growth; yellowing from base upward | Yes (mobile) |
| Phosphorus (P) | Purple/reddish coloration of leaves; poor root development; delayed maturity | Yes (mobile) |
| Potassium (K) | Marginal leaf scorch (tip and edge browning); weak stems; poor fruit quality | Yes (mobile) |
| Calcium (Ca) | Tip burn of young leaves; stunted roots; blossom end rot (tomato) | No (immobile) |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Interveinal chlorosis of older leaves (veins stay green, leaf turns yellow) | Yes (mobile) |
| Sulfur (S) | Chlorosis of young leaves; stunted growth; delayed flowering | No (immobile) |
| Iron (Fe) | Interveinal chlorosis of young leaves; leaves turn pale/white between veins | No (immobile) |
| Manganese (Mn) | Interveinal chlorosis; grey speckling on young leaves | No (immobile) |
| Zinc (Zn) | Small leaves; shortened internodes (rosette); mottled appearance | No (immobile) |
| Boron (B) | Death of shoot tips; hollow stems; poor fruit/seed set | No (immobile) |
Key NEET Rule: Mobile nutrients (N, P, K, Mg) show deficiency in older leaves first. Immobile nutrients (Ca, Fe, S, Zn, B) show deficiency in younger leaves first.
Essential Elements — Roles and Deficiency Symptoms
MACRONUTRIENTS (9 elements — C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S):
MICRONUTRIENTS (8 elements — Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B, Cl, Ni):
| Element | Key Function | Deficiency Disease/Symptom | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fe | Cytochromes, ferredoxin, nitrogenase | Interveinal chlorosis — young leaves | Immobile |
| Mn | PS II water photolysis, enzyme activator | Grey speck in cereals, interveinal chlorosis young | Immobile |
| Zn | Auxin (IAA) synthesis, enzyme activator | Little leaf disease, interveinal chlorosis | Immobile |
| Cu | Plastocyanin, cytochrome oxidase | Necrosis leaf tips, dieback shoots | Immobile |
| Mo | Nitrogenase, nitrate reductase cofactor | Whiptail disease (cauliflower) | Immobile |
| B | Pollen germination, cell wall, sugar transport | Stout stalk (celery), internal cork (apple) | Immobile |
| Cl | PS II photolysis, osmotic regulation | Wilting of leaf tips | — |
| Ni | Urease cofactor | Leaf tip necrosis | — |