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.