Turmeric Nutrient Deficiency: Signs, Causes and the Fertilizer That Fixes It
Turmeric nutrient deficiency is one of the first things to check when the leaves of your luyang dilaw (turmeric) turn yellow, purple or burnt at the edges. On Philippine farms the usual ones are nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, sulfur 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 iron, zinc, sulfur 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 turmeric nutrient deficiency you have, and a soil test confirms it. Each one below has its signs, its causes and its fix.
Turmeric 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, leaf edges and tips | Older leaves pale yellow green with red tints creeping from the edges to the midrib. | Urea 46 0 0, Complete 14 14 14 |
| Potassium | old, lower leaves, leaf edges and tips | Leaf edges burn brown, with dead spots, short internodes and plants that wilt easily. | Muriate of potash 0 0 60, Sulfate of potash 0 0 50 |
| Phosphorus | old, lower leaves, the whole plant | Slow plants with deeper color or purple browning, thin stems and lost lower leaves. | Single superphosphate 0 20 0, Complete 14 14 14 |
| Magnesium | old, lower leaves, between the veins | Older leaves yellow at the edges and between the veins, often with an arrowhead shape at the leaf base. | Epsom salt / magnesium sulfate, Dolomite |
Shows first on the young leaves
| Nutrient | Where it starts | What you see | Fix with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | Young leaves yellow between the veins, fast spreading over the whole leaf until it is white. | Ferrous sulfate |
| Zinc | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | Small, distorted, bunched leaves at the top with yellow between the veins. | Zinc sulfate, Agricultural lime |
| Sulfur | the whole plant, young leaves and the tip | Stunted plants whose leaves turn pale yellow, veins included. | Epsom salt / magnesium sulfate, Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0 |
| Manganese | young leaves and the tip, between the veins | New leaves look mottled, light green to yellow green between the veins. | Manganese sulfate |
Before you buy fertilizer for a turmeric nutrient deficiency
So use the table to pick the likeliest turmeric 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 turmeric
Pale or yellow green leaves appear first on the older leaves. Reddish tints start at the leaf edges and spread toward the midrib. Leaves are small, growth slows markedly and rhizome yield drops. You see it most at this stage: from planting to about 4 months.
Why nitrogen deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
Worn out or sandy soils, heavy rain and too little fertilizer.
How to tell it apart
Magnesium deficiency yellows between the veins with an arrowhead at the leaf base. Leaf spot gives spots, not an even pale color. To be sure, check that the old leaves yellowed first. Soil test.
What to apply for nitrogen deficiency
Give 140 kg N per hectare as urea in five splits (at planting and 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after), with 60 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O. For quick help spray 2 percent DAP 18 46 0 (20 g per liter, 320 g in a 16 liter sprayer) or 1 percent urea (10 g per liter, 160 g in a 16 liter sprayer), twice a week apart.
- Urea 46 0 0
- Complete 14 14 14
- Diammonium phosphate 18 46 0
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, mulch and add compost. Never skip the split doses. Let a soil test and the crop's color set the season's nitrogen.
Potassium deficiency in turmeric
Growth slows and internodes shorten. Leaf edges burn brown and dead spots form in the leaf, fewer side shoots grow, and plants wilt easily. You see it most at this stage: rhizome bulking.
Why potassium deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
Sandy, leached soils and fields without potash.
How to tell it apart
Leaf blotch disease gives small spots over the leaf, not burned edges. To be sure, soil test for potassium.
What to apply for potassium deficiency
Give 90 kg potassium per hectare in four splits (at planting and 60, 90 and 120 days after), or a 1 percent potassium sulfate spray (10 g per liter, 160 g in a 16 liter sprayer) every 15 days.
- Muriate of potash 0 0 60
- 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, split potash through the season and add compost or ash. Test the soil every two or three years.
Phosphorus deficiency in turmeric
Growth slows and leaf color deepens, with browning or purple in some plants. Stems are thin, fewer side shoots form and the lower leaves are lost. You see it most at this stage: early growth.
Why phosphorus deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
Acid and volcanic soils that hold phosphorus.
How to tell it apart
Nitrogen deficiency makes leaves paler, not darker. To be sure, soil test for available phosphorus.
What to apply for phosphorus deficiency
Soak 6 kg superphosphate in 100 liters of water overnight, takes the clear liquid, adds 150 g urea, 150 g magnesium sulfate, 150 g ferrous sulfate and 100 g borax. Sprays it every 15 days until symptoms go. For the soil, apply phosphorus at planting following the soil test. A usual basal dose is 4 to 6 bags of Complete 14 14 14 per hectare in the furrow at planting. For quick help, spray Monoammonium phosphate or Monopotassium phosphate at 1 percent (160 grams in a 16 liter sprayer).
- Single superphosphate 0 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, apply phosphorus at planting each season.
Iron deficiency in turmeric
The yellowing begins between the veins of young leaves and soon covers the whole blade. A bad case leaves them fully white. You see it most at this stage: from the third month.
Why iron deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
High pH soils, waterlogging and low potassium.
How to tell it apart
Manganese deficiency gives a mottled light green look rather than full bleaching. To be sure, soil pH test and a leaf test. In a soil test, less than 4.5 ppm of iron is low.
What to apply for iron deficiency
Give 30 kg ferrous sulfate per hectare to the soil, followed by sprays of 2.5 kg ferrous sulfate per hectare in the third, fourth and fifth months. Spray Ferrous sulfate at 0.5 to 1 percent (80 to 160 grams in a 16 liter sprayer), or an iron chelate at the label rate, two or three times 7 to 10 days apart.
- Ferrous sulfate
Sold here with iron: DDDD Planter's Choice Ferrous Sulphate Heptahydrate by Modern Time (19 percent iron), Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate by Zetryl Chem (30 percent iron), Ferrous Sulphate Monohydrate by Newman Chemicals (30 percent iron) and Liquid Chelate Iron with Sulfur by Sagrex (5 percent iron and 3 percent sulfur). 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 iron deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, plant on well drained beds and keep organic matter high. Test the soil every two or three years.
Magnesium deficiency in turmeric
Symptoms start on older leaves, which may drop or show a triangular arrowhead near the leaf stalk. Leaves yellow at the edges and between the veins until the whole leaf is yellow, and growth slows. You see it most at this stage: mid season.
Why magnesium deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
Acid, sandy soils and heavy potash.
How to tell it apart
Potassium deficiency burns the leaf edges brown. To be sure, soil test for magnesium.
What to apply for magnesium deficiency
Give a 0.5 percent magnesium sulfate spray (5 g Epsom salt per liter) every 15 days until symptoms go. Give about 80 kg magnesium sulfate per hectare in bands near the plants. Apply it apart from potash.
- Epsom salt / magnesium sulfate
- 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, use dolomite on acid soils. Test the soil every two or three years. Lime acid soil with Dolomite rather than plain lime.
Zinc deficiency in turmeric
Leaves yellow between the veins and come out small and distorted, bunched in a rosette at the top. Plants branch less and roots are short. You see it most at this stage: early growth.
Why zinc deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
High pH soils and heavy phosphorus.
How to tell it apart
Iron deficiency bleaches young leaves without bunching. To be sure, soil test for zinc. In a soil test, less than 0.8 ppm of zinc is low.
What to apply for zinc deficiency
Give about 20 kg Zinc sulfate per hectare to the soil, or in severe cases a morning spray of 2 g zinc sulfate with 2.5 g lime per liter. Keep zinc and phosphate applications apart. Give the soil dose at planting or when the rains begin, and sprays on young growth.
- Zinc sulfate
- Agricultural lime
Sold here with zinc: Harvester Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate by Universal Harvester (22 percent zinc), Petbowe Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate (33 percent zinc), Tierramino ZN by Unilox Far East Resources (7 0 0 with 10 percent zinc) and Liquid Chelate Zinc with Sulfur by Sagrex (10 percent zinc and 5 percent sulfur). 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 the soil pH between 5 and 7.5. Test the soil every two or three years.
Sulfur deficiency in turmeric
Plants stay stunted and the leaves turn pale yellow, veins and all, until the whole leaf is chlorotic. Stems are thin and maturity is late. You see it most at this stage: early to mid growth.
Why sulfur deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
Soils low in organic matter and burning crop waste.
How to tell it apart
Nitrogen deficiency starts on the old leaves with red tinted edges. To be sure, soil and leaf test for sulfur. In a soil test, less than 10 ppm of sulfate sulfur is low.
What to apply for sulfur deficiency
Give a spray of 5 g magnesium sulfate with 10 g urea per liter every 15 days. Use a sulfur bearing fertilizer such as Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0 or single superphosphate. Give about 25 kg sulfur dust per hectare on sulfur poor soils, or Gypsum on alkaline soils.
- Epsom salt / magnesium sulfate
- Ammonium sulfate 21 0 0
- Gypsum
Sold here with sulfur: Atlas Ammosul 21 0 0 by Atlas Fertilizer (21 0 0 with 24 percent sulfur), Philphos Gypsum (22.2 percent calcium and 17.4 percent sulfur), Harvester Sulphate of Potash by Universal Harvester (0 0 50 with 17.5 percent sulfur) and Agsmart Kieserite Granule (20 percent sulfur and 16.3 percent magnesium). Check the FPA registration on the bag and follow the label rate. For the how and when, see our guide to ammonium sulfate fertilizer, and the page on sulfur deficiency in every crop.
To keep it away, add organic matter and stop burning trash. Test the soil every two or three years.
Manganese deficiency in turmeric
Symptoms show on new growth: leaves look mottled, light green to yellow green between the veins. Older leaves stay green. You see it most at this stage: early to mid growth.
Why manganese deficiency happens in luyang dilaw
High pH and over limed soils.
How to tell it apart
Iron deficiency bleaches young leaves more strongly. To be sure, leaf test for manganese. In a soil test, less than 1 ppm of manganese is low.
What to apply for manganese deficiency
Give a 0.5 percent manganese sulfate spray (5 g per liter, 80 g in a 16 liter sprayer), twice a week apart.
- 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 over lime. Test the soil every two or three years.
A soil test is the surest check for any turmeric 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 luyang dilaw needs. That saves money, because extra fertilizer is money lost.
Open the Nutrient Deficiency Finder, pick luyang dilaw, 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
Turmeric nutrient deficiency questions
Why are my luyang dilaw leaves turning yellow?
What fertilizer fixes nitrogen deficiency in turmeric?
What fertilizer fixes potassium deficiency in turmeric?
What fertilizer fixes phosphorus deficiency in turmeric?
How do I know which nutrient my luyang dilaw 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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