Often, certain symptoms are common to a number of nutrient deficiencies. To help keep track of these similarities, the tables below are a cross-reference of similar nutrient deficiency symptoms on various plant parts.
Whole Shoot
| Symptoms | Nutrient Deficiency |
| Light green |
N, S, Mn, Cu, Mo |
| Grey green |
Zn |
| Green |
Ca |
| Dark green |
P, B, K |
| Old leaves green |
Fe, Mg |
| New leaves pale, spindly |
K |
Old Leaves
| Symptoms | Deficiencies with symptoms in old leaves | Deficiencies with similar symptoms in leaves other than old leaves |
| Tip and margin chlorosis |
N, P |
|
| Whole leaf chlorosis |
N |
S, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mo |
| Tip necrosis |
P |
Mg, S |
| Whole leaf necrosis |
P |
|
| Tip and margin necrosis |
K |
Mo |
| Necrotic speckling |
K |
Mn |
| Green arrow effect |
K |
|
Middle Leaves
| Symptoms | Deficiencies with symptoms in middle leaves | Deficiencies with similar symptoms in leaves other than middle leaves |
| General chlorosis |
Mo |
S, Mg, Fe, Cu, N |
Tip and margin
necrosis |
Mo |
K |
| Central necrosis |
Zn |
Mn |
Leaf collapse
(central region) |
Zn |
Mn |
| Longitudinal striping |
Mo |
|
Watersoaked
appearance |
Zn |
B |
Young Leaves
| Symptoms | Deficiencies with symptoms on young leaves | Deficiencies with similar symptoms in leaves other than young leaves |
| General chlorosis |
S, Mg, Fe |
|
| Chlorosis interveinal |
Fe |
|
| Chlorosis mottled |
Mg |
|
| Necrotic tipping |
Mg, S |
P |
| Necrotic midleaf |
Mn |
Zn |
| Leaf collapse |
Mn |
Zn |
| Flecking and striping |
Mn |
|
| Folding and spindly |
Mg |
K |
| Watersoaked appearance |
B |
Zn |
| Leaf distortion |
B |
|
Emerging Leaves
| Symptoms | Deficiencies with symptoms on emerging leaves | Deficiencies with similar symptoms in leaves other than emerging leaves |
| General chlorosis |
Cu |
S, Mg, Fe, Mo, N |
| Remains unopened |
Ca |
|
| Necrosis in center of shoot |
Ca |
|
| Withertip |
Cu |
|
| Terminal dieback |
Cu, Ca, B |
|
| Shoot collapse |
Cu, Ca |
|
