Corn and soybeans: signs of potassium deficiency

Corn:

In maize, the edges of the lower leaves turn brown or yellow. This is accompanied by a striped appearance of the rest of the leaf. The leaves turn a very light green color, which can be similar to symptoms of other micronutrient deficiencies (see below).

Soybeans:

On soybeans, the leaf margins turn light green to yellow. These symptoms first appear on the lower leaves and then spread to the top of the plant.

What can potassium deficiency be confused with?

• Sulfur deficiency (S) – symptoms include yellowing of leaves, especially young leaves, which can be similar to potassium deficiency.
• Magnesium (Mg) deficiency – striping on the leaves and yellowish edges can resemble symptoms of potassium deficiency.
• Zinc (Zn) deficiency is the appearance of yellow stripes between leaf veins, which can be confused with potassium deficiency.
• The impact of soybean aphids – symptoms of potassium deficiency can appear on the upper leaves of plants under the pressure of aphids, even with sufficient potassium in the soil.

It is always important to conduct a detailed soil and plant analysis to determine the exact cause of the symptoms!