Moringa Nutrient Deficiency: Signs, Causes and the Fertilizer That Fixes It
Moringa nutrient deficiency is one of the first things to check when the leaves of your malunggay (moringa) turn yellow, purple or burnt at the edges. On Philippine farms the usual ones are nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, boron and zinc. 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 and phosphorus move inside the plant, so a shortage shows on the old, lower leaves first. But boron and zinc 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 moringa nutrient deficiency you have, and a soil test confirms it. Each one below has its signs, its causes and its fix.
Moringa 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 | The whole plant turns light yellow, new leaves come small, and plants stay thin and weak. | Urea 46 0 0, Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0 |
| Potassium | old, lower leaves, leaf edges and tips | Older leaflets yellow and scorch at the edges, and pods stay short and thin. | Muriate of potash 0 0 60, Complete 14 14 14 |
| Phosphorus | old, lower leaves, the roots | Slow growing young plants with dull dark green leaves, sometimes purplish, and weak roots. | Superphosphate 0 20 0, Ammonium phosphate 18 46 0 |
Shows first on the young leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boron | young leaves and the tip, fruit, grain or tubers | Few flowers and few pods set on trees that look healthy, with new shoots that may twist. | Borax, Solubor |
| Zinc | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | New leaflets come small and pale between the veins, and shoots stay short. | Zinc sulfate, Ferrous sulfate |
Before you buy fertilizer for a moringa nutrient deficiency
So use the table to pick the likeliest moringa 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 moringa
Of all shortages, nitrogen shows soonest and clearest. The whole seedling turns light yellow and stays small and weak. The older leaflets pale first, as in other plants. New shoots are short and few, so leaf harvests are light. You see it most at this stage: any stage, but worst in plants cut often for leaves, since every harvest takes nitrogen away.
Why nitrogen deficiency happens in malunggay
Frequent leaf harvests without feeding, sandy soils low in organic matter, and heavy rain. Moringa seedlings take up more nitrogen and potassium than any other nutrient.
How to tell it apart
Red mites, often the worst malunggay pest, leave pale yellow specks on the leaves. Look for tiny mites and webbing under the leaflets. To be sure, A soil test before planting. Plants that green up and push new shoots within two weeks after urea or manure confirm it.
What to apply for nitrogen deficiency
Give 15 kg of compost per pit at planting, then 45 grams of nitrogen per pit 3 months after sowing (as part of 45:15:30 grams of NPK) and another 45 grams of nitrogen at 6 months. 45 grams of nitrogen is about 100 grams of Urea 46 0 0. After cutting back, give 45:15:30 grams of NPK per plant with 25 kg of manure. Water after feeding.
- 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, add compost or manure after every few leaf harvests and feed in small, regular doses. Let a soil test and the crop's color set the season's nitrogen.
Potassium deficiency in moringa
Young malunggay short of potassium often show no clear signs, only slower growth. Older leaflets yellow at the tips and edges, then the edges dry brown. In pod crops, pods stay short and fill poorly. You see it most at this stage: bearing trees and plants cut often for leaves.
Why potassium deficiency happens in malunggay
Sandy, leached soils and heavy harvests. Moringa seedlings take up more potassium than any nutrient except nitrogen.
How to tell it apart
Red mites, often the worst malunggay pest, leave pale yellow specks on the leaves. Look for tiny mites and webbing under the leaflets. To be sure, A soil test for potash. A leaf test helps.
What to apply for potassium deficiency
Give 30 grams of potash per pit at 3 months as part of 45:15:30 grams of NPK, and again after cutting back. 30 grams of potash is about 50 grams of Muriate of potash 0 0 60. For drip, apply nitrogen and potash as urea and muriate of potash. Give 200 to 500 grams of Muriate of potash 0 0 60 a bearing tree a year in two doses, more while fruits are filling.
- Muriate of potash 0 0 60
- Complete 14 14 14
- Sulfate of potash 0 0 50
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, use a complete fertilizer such as 14 14 14 or add potash with every feeding. Return pruned twigs and leaves as compost. Test the soil every two or three years.
Phosphorus deficiency in moringa
Young malunggay short of phosphorus often show no clear signs, only slower growth. Young plants grow slowly and root poorly. Leaves stay dull dark green and older ones may turn purplish. Branching and flowering are poor. You see it most at this stage: seedlings and young plants after planting.
Why phosphorus deficiency happens in malunggay
Acid soils that hold phosphorus and planting without manure or phosphate. Moringa does best on deep sandy loam soil at pH 6.5 to 8.
How to tell it apart
Nitrogen shortage also slows growth, but leaves turn pale instead of dark. Cold and waterlogged soil also slow young plants and can purple the leaves. To be sure, A soil test for phosphorus and pH.
What to apply for phosphorus deficiency
Mix phosphate into the pit at planting. Give 15 grams of phosphate per pit at 3 months as part of 45:15:30 grams of NPK. 15 grams of phosphate is about 75 grams of Superphosphate 0 20 0 or 33 grams of Ammonium phosphate 18 46 0. Lime very acid soils. Give 200 to 500 grams of Complete 14 14 14 a young tree, up to 1 to 2 kg a bearing tree, when the rains begin.
- Superphosphate 0 20 0
- Ammonium phosphate 18 46 0
- Complete 14 14 14
- Agricultural lime
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, add compost and a phosphate fertilizer to every planting pit. Test the soil every two or three years.
Boron deficiency in moringa
The signs are like those on other plants. New leaves and shoot tips grow twisted or stunted and the tip can die. Flowers drop and few pods set. Boron often limits pod set. A 0.2 percent boric acid spray gives more flower clusters, with more flowers and pods on each. You see it most at this stage: flowering and pod setting in trees grown for pods.
Why boron deficiency happens in malunggay
Sandy, leached soils, soils of high pH, and dry spells. Boron is harder for roots to take up at high pH.
How to tell it apart
Pod fly and bud worms also cause flower and pod drop. Look for maggots in pods and caterpillars in buds, the main moringa pests. To be sure, A soil test with pH and boron. Spray a few trees and compare pod set. In a soil test, less than 0.5 ppm of boron is low.
What to apply for boron deficiency
Spray boric acid at 0.2 percent (2 grams per liter, 32 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) at the vegetative, flowering and pod setting stages. Borax or Solubor can also be used. Follow the label. Boron is toxic in excess, so do not raise the rate. Give 25 to 50 grams of Borax a young tree and 50 to 100 grams a bearing tree a year, spread evenly under the canopy.
- 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 season, and give a boron spray before flowering where pod set is poor. Test the soil every two or three years.
Zinc deficiency in moringa
The signs are like those on other plants. New leaflets come out small and yellow between the veins while the veins stay green, and the shoots stay short and bunched. A mixed micronutrient spray helps growth and pods most, and a ferrous sulfate plus zinc sulfate spray comes next. You see it most at this stage: new flushes after cutting back, and young plants.
Why zinc deficiency happens in malunggay
High pH soils, which lock up zinc, and heavy phosphate use. Moringa is often grown on soils up to pH 8, where zinc is less available.
How to tell it apart
Iron shortage also yellows new leaves between the veins, often on the same high pH soils. The two are often sprayed together. To be sure, A soil test with pH and a leaf test. Spray a few plants and compare the next flush. In a soil test, less than 0.8 ppm of zinc is low.
What to apply for zinc deficiency
Spray Zinc sulfate at 0.5 percent (5 grams per liter, 80 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) at the vegetative, flowering and pod setting stages. It was used together with Ferrous sulfate at 1 percent plus 0.1 percent citric acid. Do not mix zinc with phosphate fertilizer in one dose. 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
- Ferrous 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, add compost and avoid overusing phosphate fertilizer. Test the soil every two or three years.
A soil test is the surest check for any moringa 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 malunggay needs. That saves money, because extra fertilizer is money lost.
Open the Nutrient Deficiency Finder, pick malunggay, 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
Moringa nutrient deficiency questions
Why are my malunggay leaves turning yellow?
What fertilizer fixes nitrogen deficiency in moringa?
What fertilizer fixes potassium deficiency in moringa?
What fertilizer fixes phosphorus deficiency in moringa?
How do I know which nutrient my malunggay lacks?
Find the missing nutrient and fix it
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