Chico Nutrient Deficiency: Signs, Causes and the Fertilizer That Fixes It
Chico nutrient deficiency is one of the first things to check when the leaves of your sapodilla (chico) turn yellow, purple or burnt at the edges. On Philippine farms the usual ones are nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, boron, zinc, magnesium and manganese. This guide shows where each one starts, how to be sure, and the fertilizer that fixes it.
Start with one question: did the change begin on the old leaves or on the young ones? Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium move inside the plant, so a shortage shows on the old, lower leaves first. But boron, zinc and manganese stay where the plant first put them, so the young leaves and the growing tip show it first. After that, the color and the pattern narrow down which chico nutrient deficiency you have, and a soil test confirms it. Each one below has its signs, its causes and its fix.
Chico nutrient deficiency signs, old leaves and young leaves
Shows first on the old leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen | old, lower leaves, the whole plant | Small, yellow green mature leaves, amber to red new leaves, thin shoots and few small fruits. | Urea 46 0 0, Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0 |
| Potassium | old, lower leaves, between the veins | Light brown specks over the leaf that join into dead patches between the large veins. | Muriate of potash 0 0 60, Sulfate of potash 0 0 50 |
| Phosphorus | old, lower leaves | Older leaves take on a dull purplish tint and leaves come out smaller than normal. | Ammonium phosphate 18 46 0, Superphosphate 0 20 0 |
| Magnesium | old, lower leaves, between the veins | Older leaves turn greenish yellow between the veins while the midrib and big veins stay deep green. | Dolomite, Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) |
Shows first on the young leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boron | leaf edges and tips, young leaves and the tip | Yellowish green leaves with burnt tips and edges, and split midribs on the leaf underside. | Borax, Solubor |
| Zinc | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | Young leaves come out small and pale, crowded at the shoot tip. | Zinc sulfate |
| Manganese | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | Pale yellow between the veins with wide green bands along the veins, light spots and early leaf drop. | Manganese sulfate |
Before you buy fertilizer for a chico nutrient deficiency
So use the table to pick the likeliest chico nutrient deficiency, then read its section below. Also keep in mind that dry soil, standing water, cold nights, a pest or a disease can look the same. That is why it pays to check the roots and the whole field first.
Nitrogen deficiency in chico
Growth slows and the tree looks thin. Mature leaves stay small and turn yellow green. But young leaves on growing shoots come out amber to bright red and the bark of young shoots turns reddish brown. Leaves fall early, and the tree carries fewer and smaller fruits. These are the signs on sapota (chico). You see it most at this stage: young trees in fast growth, and bearing trees after heavy crops, mostly during flushing and fruit set.
Why nitrogen deficiency happens in sapodilla
Trees that get no fertilizer or manure, sandy or eroded soils low in organic matter, and heavy rain that washes nitrogen down. Grass and weeds under the canopy compete for it.
How to tell it apart
New chico leaves are normally pinkish when they first open. So judge by the mature leaves: in nitrogen shortage they stay small and yellow green. To be sure, A leaf test of mature leaves from recent growth shows low nitrogen. A soil test shows organic matter. New flushes that come out green and full sized after urea confirm it.
What to apply for nitrogen deficiency
For a quick lift, spray Urea 46 0 0 at 2 percent (20 grams per liter, 320 grams in a 16 liter sprayer). The spray works, and 250 grams of nitrogen per tree brings heavier fruit and a bigger crop. Then feed the soil: give 0.2 kg of nitrogen per tree in the first year, rising by 0.2 kg each year to 1 kg from the sixth year, with farm manure. Mature trees may need 1.5 kg of nitrogen or more a year. One kg of nitrogen is about 2.2 kg of Urea 46 0 0. Spread it in a ring under the drip line when the rains begin and once more before they stop.
- Urea 46 0 0
- Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0
- Complete 14 14 14
Sold here with nitrogen: Atlas Granular Urea (46 0 0) by Atlas Fertilizer, Amigo Planters Ammonium Chloride by La Filipina (25 0 0), Agripower 46 0 0 (Locally Blended) Coated by Green Acres Agri Tech and Calcipro by Ramgo (15.5 0 0 with 18.8 percent calcium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to urea fertilizer, and the page on nitrogen deficiency in every crop. In anee.io, Anee, the smart farm technician, reads a photo of the leaf and tells you which nutrient is short.
To keep it away, feed every year in a ring under the canopy edge, add compost or manure, and keep grass away from the trunk. Nitrogen alone can raise chico yield by about 70 percent over trees that get nothing. Let a soil test and the crop's color set the season's nitrogen.
Potassium deficiency in chico
Light brown specks appear scattered over the leaf blade. They grow and join into dead patches between the large veins, the underside of the leaf browns. Yellow areas form between the veins. These are the signs on sapota (chico). As in other fruit trees, fruit size and quality drop when potash runs short. You see it most at this stage: bearing trees, most of all while fruits are growing, since fruits draw heavily on potash.
Why potassium deficiency happens in sapodilla
Sandy and leached soils, heavy cropping year after year with no potash returned, and long dry spells that cut uptake.
How to tell it apart
Chico leaf spot diseases (Phyllosticta, Pestalotia, Septoria and others) make separate spots scattered on any leaf, not patches that join between the veins. Magnesium shortage also yellows between the veins, but the midrib and big veins stay deep green. To be sure, A soil test for potash and a leaf test. New leaves that stay clean after potash is applied confirm it.
What to apply for potassium deficiency
Apply potash to the soil under the canopy and water it in. Give Muriate of potash at 80 kg per hectare, or better, use Sulfate of potash instead. The usual tree schedule gives 0.3 kg of K per tree in the first year, rising each year to 1.5 kg from the sixth year. A mature tree takes about 0.5 kg of potash (as K2O) a year. Split the yearly dose between the start and the end of the rainy season.
- Muriate of potash 0 0 60
- Sulfate of potash 0 0 50
- Complete 14 14 14
Sold here with potassium: Atlas Muriate of Potash (MOP) by Atlas Fertilizer (0 0 60), Simplot Sulfate 0 0 50 by Nutranta, Potassium Nitrate by Parafield (13 0 46) and Qrop Mix Production 14 0 23 plus 13 Cao by Farmtech Agriland (14 0 23 with 9.3 percent calcium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to potash fertilizer, and the page on potassium deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, give potash every year together with nitrogen. Nitrogen with potash raises yield by about 128 percent over unfed trees, more than any other pairing. Test the soil every two or three years.
Phosphorus deficiency in chico
Older leaves show a purplish pigment and leaf size gets smaller. So the rest follows general signs of phosphorus shortage: growth is slow, flushes are weak and the tree stays small for its age. You see it most at this stage: young trees in the first years after planting, while roots build up, and trees on poor acid soils.
Why phosphorus deficiency happens in sapodilla
Acid and eroded soils low in organic matter, and trees that never get manure or a fertilizer with phosphate.
How to tell it apart
Nitrogen shortage gives small yellow green leaves, not a purplish tint. Normal new chico leaves are pinkish, so judge the color on old leaves. To be sure, A soil test for available phosphorus and pH, and a leaf test.
What to apply for phosphorus deficiency
Use a leaf spray of DAP at 2 percent (20 grams of Ammonium phosphate 18 46 0 per liter) every two weeks until new leaves look normal. In the soil, give phosphate with the yearly feeding under the canopy: the usual schedule gives 0.2 kg of P per tree in the first year, rising each year to 1 kg from the sixth year. A mature tree takes about 0.5 kg of phosphate (as P2O5) a year. Superphosphate 0 20 0, 16 20 0 or Complete 14 14 14 can carry it. Mix in manure or compost.
- Ammonium phosphate 18 46 0
- Superphosphate 0 20 0
- 16 20 0
- Complete 14 14 14
Sold here with phosphorus: Philphos 18 46 0 (Di Ammonium Phosphate), Atlas Super Gro (16 20 0) by Atlas Fertilizer, Amigo Planters Granular Single Super Phosphate by La Filipina (0 18 0 with 11 percent sulfur) and Triple Super Phosphate by Newman Chemicals (0 46 0). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to 16 20 0 fertilizer, and the page on phosphorus deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, put phosphate in the planting hole and in each yearly feeding, and lime very acid soils according to the soil test.
Boron deficiency in chico
Leaves turn yellowish green. Older leaves burn at the tips and along the edges and drop early, the tips of young leaves burn too. The midrib and large veins split or crack on the underside of the leaf. Boron shortage also upsets pollination, so many flowers fail to set fruit. These are the signs on sapota (chico). You see it most at this stage: flowering and fruit set, and during new flushes.
Why boron deficiency happens in sapodilla
Sandy, leached soils and soils low in organic matter. Long dry spells make it worse because roots take up less boron from dry topsoil.
How to tell it apart
Salt spray or salty soil also burns leaf tips and margins and makes leaves drop. But it does not split the midrib. To be sure, A leaf test for boron and a soil test. Look under the leaves for split midribs and veins. A boron spray at flowering on a few branches that then set more fruit supports the diagnosis.
What to apply for boron deficiency
Give Borax at 5 kg per hectare to the soil, spread evenly under the canopy and mixed in. For flowering trees, use a 0.3 percent boron spray (48 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) at flowering and again 15 days later to help pollination and fruit set. Use Solubor or Borax and follow the label for the exact amount. Do not overdose, because too much boron also burns leaf tips and edges.
- Borax
- Solubor
Sold here with boron: Etifert 11 (Borax Decahydrate) by Zetryl Chem (11 percent boron), Fertibagra 15G by Unilox Far East Resources (14.6 percent boron), B17 (Boric Acid) by Newman Chemicals (17 percent boron) and Better Yield by Bacphil Planters Fertilizer (0 0 0.9 with 10 percent boron). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to foliar fertilizer, and the page on boron deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, add compost every year and give a small boron dose before flowering on sandy soils. Test the soil every two or three years.
Zinc deficiency in chico
Signs show on young leaves, which stay small. So the rest follows general fruit tree signs of zinc shortage: young leaves turn pale or yellow between the veins. Shoots stop lengthening so that small leaves crowd at the tip in a rosette. You see it most at this stage: during new flushes, when shoots grow fast.
Why zinc deficiency happens in sapodilla
Sandy and leached soils, high pH or overlimed soils, and heavy use of phosphate fertilizer, which can hold back zinc uptake.
How to tell it apart
Iron shortage also yellows young leaves between green veins, but the leaves keep their normal size. Chico seldom shows iron shortage even on high pH limestone soils. To be sure, A leaf test for zinc and a soil test for pH and zinc. Spray a few branches with zinc and see whether the next flush comes out normal sized. In a soil test, less than 0.8 ppm of zinc is low.
What to apply for zinc deficiency
Use a leaf spray of Zinc sulfate at 0.5 percent (5 grams per liter, 80 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) on the new flush. Repeat on later flushes if the small leaves return. On soils proven low in zinc, add Zinc sulfate to the soil following the soil test. Give 50 to 100 grams of Zinc sulfate a young tree and 100 to 250 grams a bearing tree a year under the canopy.
- Zinc sulfate
Sold here with zinc: Harvester Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate by Universal Harvester (22 percent zinc), Tierramino ZN by Unilox Far East Resources (7 0 0 with 10 percent zinc), Liquid Chelate Zinc with Sulfur by Sagrex (10 percent zinc and 5 percent sulfur) and Nemes Foliar by SCL Filipinas (4.8 0 0 with 10 percent zinc, 4.9 percent boron and 4.8 percent magnesium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to fertilizer with zinc, and the page on zinc deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, avoid heavy phosphate alone. Use 2 to 3 minor element leaf sprays a year for chico during the growing season. Include zinc in them.
Magnesium deficiency in chico
Leaves go lighter green, then greenish yellow, while the midrib and larger veins stay deep green. The yellow leaves then show scattered brown spots. On older leaves the yellowing between the veins is followed by dying of the leaf edge toward the tip. These are the signs on sapota (chico). You see it most at this stage: bearing trees, most often during fruit growth and after heavy potash feeding.
Why magnesium deficiency happens in sapodilla
Acid, sandy and leached soils, and heavy potash fertilizer, which competes with magnesium.
How to tell it apart
Potassium shortage gives brown specks and dead patches between the veins without the clear deep green band along the veins. Manganese shortage shows first on young leaves. To be sure, A soil test for magnesium, potash and calcium together, since their balance matters, and a leaf test.
What to apply for magnesium deficiency
Use Dolomite on the soil or a 1 percent magnesium nitrate leaf spray (160 grams in a 16 liter sprayer). On acid soils, Dolomite supplies both lime and magnesium. Take the amount from the soil test. Where the soil pH is already fine, spread Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) or Kieserite under the canopy and follow the label. Give 100 to 250 grams of Kieserite or Magnesium sulfate a tree a year, or Dolomite on acid soil. Put the soil dose in before planting or when the rains begin. Sprays show results in 10 to 14 days.
- Dolomite
- Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
- Kieserite
Sold here with magnesium: Dolomite by A6 Agrisource (24 percent calcium and 11 percent magnesium), Agsmart Kieserite Granule (20 percent sulfur and 16.3 percent magnesium), DDDD Planter's Choice Magnesium Sulphate Monohydrate by Modern Time (15.1 percent magnesium) and Zetryl MAG 9 by Zetryl Chem (9 percent magnesium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to complete fertilizer, and the page on magnesium deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, use a fertilizer that carries magnesium, such as a 6 6 6 2 mix with magnesium for young chico trees. Balance potash with magnesium according to the soil test.
Manganese deficiency in chico
Light colored spots appear on the leaves and some turn into dead spots. The midrib and veins keep green bands, some wide and some narrow, with yellow tissue between them. Leaves drop early and the shoot tips can die back. These are the signs on sapota (chico). In fruit trees in general the signs start on the younger leaves. You see it most at this stage: new flushes, mostly on high pH or overlimed soils.
Why manganese deficiency happens in sapodilla
High pH and limestone soils, and overliming of light, sandy soils, which locks up manganese. Acid soils, which most fruit orchards are planted on, usually hold plenty of manganese. So this is less common than the other troubles.
How to tell it apart
Iron shortage yellows young leaves more evenly between fine green veins, without the wide green bands. Zinc shortage makes young leaves clearly small. To be sure, A leaf test for manganese and a soil pH test. A spray on a few branches that greens the next flush supports it. In a soil test, less than 1 ppm of manganese is low.
What to apply for manganese deficiency
Use Manganese sulfate sprays at 0.3 percent (3 grams per liter, 48 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) every two weeks until new leaves green up. Soil doses often fail on limed or high pH soils because the manganese gets locked up, so spraying works better there.
- Manganese sulfate
Sold here with manganese: Manganese Sulfate by Zetryl Chem (31 percent manganese), Tierramino MN by Unilox Far East Resources (7 0 0 with 12 percent manganese), Multimate by Agway (4 0 0 with 4.5 percent sulfur, 2.8 percent zinc and 1.8 percent manganese) and Nutri Tabble Meta Foliar by NS Northern Organic Fertilizer (12 percent zinc, 9 percent sulfur, 2 percent magnesium and 1.2 percent manganese). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to foliar fertilizer, and the page on manganese deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, do not overlime. Lime only to the level the soil test calls for.
A soil test is the surest check for any chico nutrient deficiency. Before you buy, ask your Municipal Agriculture Office where to send a soil sample. The DA regional soil laboratories test soil, and the result says how much of each fertilizer your sapodilla needs. That saves money, because extra fertilizer is money lost.
Open the Nutrient Deficiency Finder, pick sapodilla, say where the leaves changed first and what you see, and get the fertilizers sold here that fix it.
- Anee, the smart farm technician, reads a photo of the leaf
- The cropping calendar dates every fertilizer application of your season
Chico nutrient deficiency questions
Why are my sapodilla leaves turning yellow?
What fertilizer fixes nitrogen deficiency in chico?
What fertilizer fixes potassium deficiency in chico?
What fertilizer fixes phosphorus deficiency in chico?
How do I know which nutrient my sapodilla lacks?
Find the missing nutrient and fix it
With Libre + Anee, read the whole guide: how to tell the deficiency from look alikes, how to be sure, what to apply, and the fertilizers sold here that supply it.
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