Common crops affected
What is it?
Micronutrients are needed in small amounts but are essential to chlorophyll, enzymes, and growth. Iron and manganese deficiencies typically cause interveinal yellowing on new leaves; zinc deficiency causes small leaves and short, bunched shoots. High soil pH, over-liming, waterlogging, and nutrient imbalances often make these elements unavailable even when present in the soil.
How to identify it
- Iron: interveinal yellowing on the youngest leaves, with veins staying green
- Manganese: similar interveinal yellowing, often a bit further down the plant
- Zinc: small leaves, short internodes, and bunched, rosetted new growth
- Common on high-pH, alkaline, or waterlogged soils
Damage and how it spreads
Trace-element shortages reduce chlorophyll, enzyme function, and growth, cutting vigor, quality, and yield, and severe cases distort and kill new growth. Because the cause is often availability (pH and balance) rather than total quantity, correcting it usually means supplying available, chelated forms and addressing soil conditions.
How to control it
- Identify the pattern (new-leaf interveinal yellowing vs. small bunched shoots) and confirm with a tissue or soil test.
- Apply available micronutrients, foliar for a fast response.
- Address soil pH and waterlogging that lock up trace elements.
- Keep macro- and micronutrient balance to avoid inducing further deficiencies.
Recommended Vegalab solution: Micro Boost
Vegalab Micro Boost supplies micronutrients with essential trace elements to correct iron, manganese, zinc, and related deficiencies, with foliar application giving a fast response. Where high pH or imbalance is locking nutrients up, Balance Boost supports soil remediation and rebalancing, and Magnesium Boost addresses companion magnesium shortfalls. Apply per label.
| Role | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary correction | Micro Boost | Micronutrient correction |
| Companion / broader pressure | Balance Boost | Soil remediation & balancing |
| Plant support | Magnesium Boost | Soluble magnesium correction |
Preventing it next season
Manage soil pH and drainage, keep nutrition balanced, and top up trace elements during high demand with Micro Boost. On problem soils, Balance Boost helps keep micronutrients available.
Claims and product availability vary by jurisdiction. Always read and follow the product label.