Okra Nutrient Deficiency: Signs, Causes and the Fertilizer That Fixes It
Okra nutrient deficiency is one of the first things to check when the leaves of your okra turn yellow, purple or burnt at the edges. On Philippine farms the usual ones are nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, boron, magnesium and calcium. 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 zinc, boron and calcium 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 okra nutrient deficiency you have, and a soil test confirms it. Each one below has its signs, its causes and its fix.
Okra 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 | Lower leaves pale and drop, and pods come small, pale and misshapen. | Urea 46 0 0, Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0 |
| Potassium | old, lower leaves, leaf edges and tips | Older leaves yellow and scorch at the edges while the leaf base stays dark green. | Muriate of potash 0 0 60, Sulfate of potash 0 0 50 |
| Phosphorus | old, lower leaves, the roots | Older leaves look extra green, then purple, on short, thin plants. | Complete 14 14 14, Ammonium phosphate 16 20 0 |
| Magnesium | old, lower leaves, between the veins | Fully grown leaves yellow in the middle while the edges stay green. | Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), Dolomite |
Shows first on the young leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | Young leaves yellow between the veins, turn whitish and stay few and small. | Zinc sulfate |
| Boron | young leaves and the tip, fruit, grain or tubers | New leaves are small and brittle, and pods stay short and misshapen with few seeds. | Borax, Solubor (sodium borate) |
| Calcium | young leaves and the tip, the roots | Growing tips brown and die, and young leaves rosette with ragged, upturned edges. | Agricultural lime, Dolomite |
Before you buy fertilizer for a okra nutrient deficiency
So use the table to pick the likeliest okra 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 okra
Older leaves turn pale to light green, then die or drop. Plants are stunted with small leaves and thin shoots, and pods are pale, small, thick or misshapen, so yield falls. You see it most at this stage: vegetative growth and the picking period.
Why nitrogen deficiency happens in okra
Sandy soils, heavy rain, low organic matter, and no side dressing once picking starts.
How to tell it apart
Magnesium shortage yellows the middle of mature leaves while the edges stay green. Yellow vein mosaic virus turns the veins yellow in a net pattern. To be sure, old leaves yellow first. Soil test and leaf tissue test.
What to apply for nitrogen deficiency
Side dress urea based on the soil test. For a quick fix, give a urea leaf spray at 10 grams per liter of water (160 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) every 15 days. Side dress 5 to 10 grams of Urea 46 0 0 a plant, about 1 to 2 bags per hectare, every two to three weeks from flowering, and water it in.
- 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, Crown Champion Ammonium Sulfate by Aqua Hydroponic Prime Ventures (21 0 0 with 24 percent sulfur), 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 manure at planting and side dress during the picking season. Split the nitrogen into two or three doses.
Potassium deficiency in okra
Older leaves yellow and scorch and then drop, with yellowing along the edges while the leaf base stays dark green. The plant carries fewer leaves. You see it most at this stage: flowering and picking.
Why potassium deficiency happens in okra
Sandy or acid soils (potassium is readily available only above about pH 6), heavy rain, and urea only feeding.
How to tell it apart
Magnesium shortage yellows the middle of the leaf instead of the edges. To be sure, soil test for potassium and a leaf tissue test.
What to apply for potassium deficiency
Apply muriate of potash based on the soil test, in split doses. For an immediate remedy, give a morning spray of sulfate of potash at 10 grams per liter of water (160 grams in a 16 liter sprayer) with a sticker. Lime or dolomite on acid soil and wood ash help. A usual dose is 1 to 2 bags of Muriate of potash 0 0 60 or Sulfate of potash 0 0 50 per hectare, split from flowering to fruit fill.
- 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, include potash at planting and during picking. Keep organic matter up with compost, manure or crop residues.
Phosphorus deficiency in okra
Older leaves look greener than normal and then turn purple. Plants have fewer leaves, short thin shoots, weak roots and poor pods, and growth is stunted. You see it most at this stage: seedling and early growth.
Why phosphorus deficiency happens in okra
Acid or iron rich soils, low organic matter, and no phosphorus at planting. Phosphorus is best taken up near pH 6.2 to 7.0.
How to tell it apart
Root knot nematodes also stunt okra. Check roots for galls. To be sure, soil test for available phosphorus and pH.
What to apply for phosphorus deficiency
Give the phosphorus fertilizer the soil test calls for, on time. For a fast fix use single superphosphate, and for the long run use bone meal or rock phosphate. A usual basal dose is 4 to 6 bags of Complete 14 14 14 per hectare, 10 to 20 grams a hill, mixed into the soil at transplanting.
- Complete 14 14 14
- Ammonium phosphate 16 20 0
- Single superphosphate
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, use complete fertilizer or 16 20 0 at planting and lime very acid soil.
Zinc deficiency in okra
Young leaves yellow between the veins and can turn white. Leaf size and number drop, leaves look mottled and stems are thin. You see it most at this stage: vegetative growth.
Why zinc deficiency happens in okra
High pH or overlimed soils, heavy phosphorus, and waterlogged soils. Zinc is best available at pH 5 to 7.5.
How to tell it apart
Yellow vein mosaic virus makes the veins themselves yellow. Zinc shortage keeps veins green. To be sure, soil test for zinc and pH, and a leaf tissue test. In a soil test, less than 0.8 ppm of zinc is low.
What to apply for zinc deficiency
Try zinc sulfate in the soil at about 20 kg per hectare. In severe cases a morning spray of zinc sulfate at 2 grams plus calcium carbonate at 2.5 grams per liter of water (40 grams in a 16 liter sprayer). Do not apply zinc and phosphate together. Give the soil dose at planting or when the rains begin, and sprays on young growth.
- 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), Semia by SCL Filipinas (20 percent zinc) and Omex Zynergy by Jardine Distribution (3.8 percent zinc and 2.1 percent copper). 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, keep pH in the 5 to 7.5 range and avoid excess phosphorus. Test the soil every two or three years.
Boron deficiency in okra
Young leaves are malformed, small and brittle, and growth is stunted. Pods are small and misshapen with poor seed set, and some stay as short stumps. You see it most at this stage: flowering and pod set.
Why boron deficiency happens in okra
Sandy soils, overlimed soils, low organic matter and drought.
How to tell it apart
Pod deformity also comes from insect feeding (fruit borer, sucking bugs). Check for holes and insects. To be sure, soil test for boron and a leaf tissue test. In a soil test, less than 0.5 ppm of boron is low.
What to apply for boron deficiency
Try borax in the soil at about 10 kg per hectare, or a borax spray at 1 gram per liter of water (16 grams in a 16 liter sprayer). Okra has a medium boron need, about 2.2 kg of boron per hectare before planting. Do not mix borax with calcium or ammonium fertilizer.
- Borax
- Solubor (sodium borate)
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 a small boron dose to the basal fertilizer on sandy soils. Test the soil every two or three years. Keep organic matter up with compost, manure or crop residues.
Magnesium deficiency in okra
Fully expanded leaves show it first: the middle of the blade yellows while the edges stay green. Leaves may drop early or show spotted dead patches, and yield drops. You see it most at this stage: flowering and picking.
Why magnesium deficiency happens in okra
Acid sandy soils and heavy potash fertilizer.
How to tell it apart
Potassium shortage scorches the edges instead. To be sure, soil test for magnesium and potassium.
What to apply for magnesium deficiency
Try magnesium sulfate in a band near the plants at about 80 kg per hectare. Do not apply magnesium and potassium fertilizer together. Put the soil dose in before planting or when the rains begin. Sprays show results in 10 to 14 days.
- Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
- Dolomite
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, long term use of dolomite on acid soil. Test the soil every two or three years. Lime acid soil with Dolomite rather than plain lime.
Calcium deficiency in okra
Young leaves are hit first. Root and shoot tips brown and die, internodes shorten so leaves form rosettes, leaf edges become ragged and brittle and curl upward, and pod quality drops. You see it most at this stage: vegetative growth and early flowering.
Why calcium deficiency happens in okra
Very acid soils, excess phosphorus, and boron shortage, which can also bring on calcium shortage. Heavy potash or ammonium fertilizer, salty soil and dry spells keep calcium from reaching fruit and young leaves.
How to tell it apart
Boron shortage also damages young growth. Check both with a soil test. To be sure, soil test for calcium, pH and boron.
What to apply for calcium deficiency
On acid soil, lime by the soil test: usually 1 to 3 tons of Agricultural lime or Dolomite per hectare, mixed in 2 to 4 weeks before planting. Gypsum on soil that is not acid.
- Agricultural lime
- Dolomite
- Gypsum
Sold here with calcium: Micronized Activated Calcite by CMCS Agricultural Products (37.6 percent calcium), Dolomite by A6 Agrisource (24 percent calcium and 11 percent magnesium), Titon Pro by Vast Agro (27.2 percent calcium, 6.1 percent silicon and 3.6 percent magnesium) 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 fertilizer for tomatoes, and the page on calcium deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, lime acid soil before planting. Keep potash in balance with magnesium and calcium.
A soil test is the surest check for any okra 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 okra needs. That saves money, because extra fertilizer is money lost.
Open the Nutrient Deficiency Finder, pick okra, 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
Okra nutrient deficiency questions
Why are my okra leaves turning yellow?
What fertilizer fixes nitrogen deficiency in okra?
What fertilizer fixes potassium deficiency in okra?
What fertilizer fixes phosphorus deficiency in okra?
How do I know which nutrient my okra 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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