Soil Fertility and Nutrient management (1+1)

Functions and deficiency symptoms of Fe

 
• It is the first micronutrient to be discovered as an essential element for plant life. Iron present in chloroplasts as a “ferrodoxin” compound. Plants obtain as Fe2+ and Fe3+ forms and also as chelated Fe form. Immobile element within the plant; as such iron deficiency is noticeable in younger leaves at the growing region.

  Functions:

  1. Involved in biosynthesis of chlorophyll and in the synthesis of chloroplast proteins
  2. Activates several enzymes involved in respiration.
  3. It brings about oxidation-reduction reactions in the plant.
  4. It regulates respiration, photosynthesis, reduction of nitrates and sulphates.

  Deficiency symptoms:

  1. Interveinal chlorosis of younger leaves and generally called as “Iron chlorosis” or lime induced chlorosis. On severe deficiency leaves become “Pale white”.
  2. Reddish-brown necrotic spots along the leaf margins of young shoots in tree crops.
  3. In Brassica necrotic terminal buds at early seedling stage.