Soil Nutrient management
Micronutrients
Copper
Plants can only absorb the ionic form of copper (Cu2⁺) from the soil solution.
Typical signs of copper deficiency appear first at the tips of young leaves and then extend downward along the leaf margins. The leaves may also be twisted or malformed and show chlorosis or even necrosis. The death of the growing points often leads to excessive tillering (i.e., branching) in cereal crops and excessive branching in dicotyledons. All legumes, including beans, lentils, peas, and peanuts are the best examples of dicotyledons. Mild or moderate deficiency may reduce yield or plant growth without clear signs.
Symptoms of toxicity include reduced shoot vigor, poorly developed root systems, stunting, discolored roots, and leaf chlorosis (yellowing) and necrosis. They can be confused with symptoms of iron deficiency. Crop species differ markedly in tolerance; for example, bean tolerates copper toxicity much better than corn does.
Deficiencies are more likely to occur in high pH (calcareous) soils, muck (organic) soils, very coarse sandy soils, or heavy clay soils. Other soil components, such as oxides and carbonates, can further reduce copper availability.
Click on the following topics for more information on soil nutrient management.
