Nutrients
Cherries - Chlorosis
Symptoms
Manganese deficiency is first seen as light green spots on leaf margins and as an interveinal mottling.
Usually the recently matured leaves in early summer growth are the first to show symptoms. Interveinal areas then become yellow, with prominent green veins.
When severe, leaves and shoots become stunted although generally there is little change from normal leaf size and shape.
In cherries, the youngest leaves are an olive green and if subjected to severe manganese shortage, the margins turn purplish brown.
Reasons
Manganese deficiency
In many fruit trees, manganese deficiency can be mistaken for iron or zinc deficiency. However with manganese deficiency, the oldest leaves are worse affected.
Manganese deficiency made worse by
- Organic soils
- Sandy soils
- High pH
- Cold wet periods
- Fluffy soils
Manganese is important for
- Combats chlorosis
- Prevents premature leaf fall
- Gives healthier greener trees