Identifying Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Soybeans

By Dorivar Ruiz Diaz and Dave Mengel

This time of year, soybeans may begin showing signs of chlorosis or other leaf discoloration in all or parts of the field. There may be many causes of discoloration. Nutrient deficiencies are one possibility.

General considerations

The relative mobility of the nutrient within the plant will determine if the deficiency symptom will first be noticeable on the lower leaves or upper leaves.  

Mobile Nutrients: These nutrients can be transferred from older tissues to the youngest tissues within the plant. Deficiency symptoms are first noticeable on the lower, oldest leaves.

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Magnesium (Mg)

Immobile Nutrients: These nutrients are not easily transferred within the plant. Therefore, symptoms occur first on the upper, youngest leaves.

• Boron (B)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Copper (Cu)
• Iron (Fe)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Sulfur (S)
• Zinc (Zn)

Possible causes of nutrient deficiencies:

1. Low soil levels of the nutrient
2. Poor inoculation (in the case of N deficiency)
3. Unusually low or high soil pH levels depending on the nutrient in question
4. Roots are unable to access sufficient amounts of the nutrients -  due to poor growing conditions, excessively wet or dry soils, cold weather, or soil compaction
5. Root injury due to mechanical, insect, disease, or herbicide injury
6. Genetics of the plant

The following is a brief description of the symptoms of some of the most common nutrient deficiencies in soybeans.

Nutrient deficiency symptoms

Nitrogen. Chlorotic or pale green plants starting with the lower leaf (Figure 1a). Within the plant, any available nitrogen (N) from the soil or from nitrogen fixation within nodules on the roots goes to the new growth first. Soybeans prefer to take up N from the soil solution as much as possible, since this requires less energy than the nitrogen fixation process. However, both sources of N are important for soybeans since they are a big user of N. Nitrogen deficiency can be associated with poor nodulation (Figure 1b).

Figure 1a. Soybean field showing signs of chlorosis.
 

Figure 1b. Lack of nodulation on far right soybean plants. 
 

Iron. Iron chlorosis, occurs in calcareous soils (contains calcium carbonates) with high soil pH. The classic symptom is chlorosis (yellowing) between the veins of young leaves since iron is not mobile within the plant (Figures 2 and 3). A side effect of iron deficiency can be N deficiency, since iron is necessary for nodule formation and function. If iron is deficient, N fixation rates may be reduced. Iron deficiency occurs on calcareous soils, in addition to high pH, plant stress can favor the development of iron chlorosis, and therefore the severity can vary significantly from year to year in the same field.
 

Figure 2. Iron chlorosis in soybeans; the upper leaves become chlorotic. 

Figure 3. Close-up of iron chlorosis in soybeans. 

Magnesium. Lower leaves will be pale green, with yellow mottling between the veins. At later stages, leaves may appear to be speckled bronze. This deficiency may occur on very sandy soils.

Manganese. Stunted plants with interveinal chlorosis (Figure 4). Can be a problem in soils with high pH (>7.0), or on soils that are sandy or with a high organic matter content (>6.0% OM). Manganese activates enzymes which are important in photosynthesis, as well as nitrogen metabolism and synthesis. Symptoms are hard to distinguish from iron chlorosis.
 

Figure 4. Manganese deficiency symptoms are similar to symptoms of iron chlorosis in soybeans. 

Phosphorus. Phosphorus deficiency may cause stunted growth, dark green coloration of the leaves, necrotic spots on the leaves, a purple color to the leaves, and leaf cupping. These symptoms occur first on older leaves. Phosphorus deficiency can also delay blooming and maturity. This deficiency may be noticeable when soils are cool and wet, due to decrease in phosphorus uptake.

Potassium. Soybean typically requires large amounts of potassium. Like phosphorus deficiency, potassium deficiency occurs first on older leaves. Symptoms are chlorosis at the leaf margins and between the veins (Figure 5). In severe cases, all but the very youngest leaves may show symptoms.

Figure 5. Potassium deficiency: chlorosis of the lower leaves. Photo by Dave Mengel, K-State Research and Extension.

Sulfur. Stunted plants, pale green color, similar to nitrogen deficiency except chlorosis may be more apparent on upper leaves. Plant-available sulfur is released from organic matter. Deficiency is most likely during cool wet conditions or on sandy soils with low organic matter content.