Zinc deficiency is a very common plant disorder that ends up costing farmers a big sum worldwide.

Zn is one of the 8 essential micronutrients that crops require in adequate amount for proper development.

The deficiency of this micronutrient happens due to a range of reasons, including poor quality soil. Rice, wheat, corn, cotton, and citrus are more susceptible to this problem vs. the others.

It leads to a significant loss in crop yields. Moreover, it even reaches to humans via the food chain, causing nutrition-related health problems.

Interestingly, treating zinc deficiency in crops is fairly easy.

Before treating, however, identifying the problem in the first place is the foremost task.

Diagnosing Zinc Deficiency in Plants

While visual observation is enough to identify that there is a problem, confirming that it’s actually zinc deficiency is difficult. The plant could be lagging in other micronutrients or trace elements. So, you cannot alone confirm that the plant is deficient in zinc by just looking at it.

But then that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t heed to physical irregularities.

There are some common signs of zinc deficiency in plants:

• The leaves have yellowed or discolored but the veins are still green; called chlorosis.
• The leaves are smaller in size than regular; these leaves also show signs of chlorosis.
• The leaves are malformed; they are narrower and have wavy margins.
• The leaves have brown spots; especially on the upper side.
• The leaves are clustered on the stem due to the deficiency of this micronutrient in dicots.
• The leaves’ tissues on areas of chlorosis are dead.

As mentioned previously though, just noticing visual cues isn’t alone sufficient to conclude zinc deficiency in plants. Once you see these signs, before going for any treatment, you should confirm the problem.

So, you should opt for soil testing. In fact, the test should be done regularly in different fields to know if zinc treatment is required. The result will make things clearer, providing you even more intensive details about the soil.

Treating Zinc Deficiency in Plants

Note, there now exist many zinc suppliers in India. So, you want to do thorough research to find someone reputed and reliable, who is known for good quality (and affordable pricing). Spare enough time in this process to find good quality zinc.

Use the solution to treat zinc deficiency in the plant or soil. Once the soil is treated, it will stay rich in zinc for years, promoting healthier plants and greater yields.

A small measure like this one can save farmers from hefty costs. Indeed, zinc deficiency is a common plant disorder. It’s also quite easy and affordable to treat.