Nutrients

N Nitrogen
P Phosphorus
K Potassium
Mg Magnesium
Ca Calcium
S Sulphur
B Boron
Cu Copper
Fe Iron
Mn Manganese
Mo Molybdenum
Zn Zinc

Lettuce - Die off

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency roots of lettuce are short and very much ramified. They look scrubby, sometimes slimy, and are brown in color. Particulary the root tips turn black. Boron deficiency causes poorly developed roots too. They also look scrubby, as a great many of very short, branched secondary roots arise. Roots show browning and die off with severe deficiency.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency on roots (middle) compared to boron deficieny (right) and to optimum supply (left)

Lettuce - Deformation

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency growth of lettuce is reduced and leaves are more wavy than normal. Starting on leaf margins or tips of young leaves, brown or grey lesions develop. This symptom is called 'tip-burn'. With progressing Ca-deficiency the leaves begin to die from tips and margins inwards. Next the symptoms spread over the older leaves. The dead leaf tissue is greyish green. If calcium deficiency occurs during early stage of development, growth is severely stunted and no heads are formed.

Reasons
Severe Calcium Deficiency Symptoms may be confused with boron deficiency, which also starts on the youngest leaves. But boron deficiency is much more concentrated on the growing point and no lesions are spread over the leaves.

Lettuce - Necrosis

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency growth of lettuce is reduced, leaves are dark green and more wavy than normal. Then, starting on leaf margins or tips of young leaves, brown or grey lesions develop. This symptom is called 'tip-burn'. With progressing Ca-deficiency the leaves begin to die from tips and margins inwards and the symptoms spread over the older leaves. The dead leaf tissue is greyish green. If calcium deficiency occurs during early stage of development, growth is severely stunted and no heads are formed.

Reasons
Severe Calcium Deficiency Symptoms may be confused with boron deficiency, which also starts on the youngest leaves. But boron deficiency is much more concentrated on the growing point and no lesions are spread over the leaves.

Lettuce - Necrosis

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency growth of lettuce is reduced and leaves are more wavy than normal. Young leaves show fade brown necrosis on their leaf tips or leaf margins. This symptom is called 'tip-burn'.

Reasons
Calcium Deficiency

Lettuce - Deformation

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency growth of lettuce is reduced and leaves are more wavy than normal. Young leaves show fade brown necrosis on their leaf tips or leaf margins. This symptom is called 'tip-burn'.

Reasons
Calcium Deficiency

Lettuce - Browning

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency roots are short and very much ramified. They look scrubby and sometimes slimy and are brown in color. Particulary the root tips turn black.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency on roots (left-hand side) compared to healthy roots

Lettuce - Browning

Symptoms
With calcium deficiency roots are short and very much ramified. They look scrubby and sometimes slimy and are brown in color. Particulary the root tips turn black. The greenish discoloration is no symptom of Ca- deficiency. Seemingly the pots with nutrient solution let some light inside, which causes green color.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency on roots (right side) compared to healthy roots (left side).

Calcium and boron deficiency made worse by

  • Acidic soils
  • Sandy or light soils (leaching)
  • Acid peat soils
  • Soils rich in sodium
  • Soils rich in aluminium
  • Drought conditions
  • Fruit high in nitrogen or potassium
  • Large fruit

Calcium is important for

  • Proper head formation without tipburn
  • Promotes root development
  • Better shelf life

Yara recommended fertilizers for Calcium

YaraLiva NITRABOR

YaraLiva NITRABOR

Lettuce (field grown): Apply 400 to 600 kg/ha in the base dressing or broadcast, 1130 kg/ha as a top dressing.

Read more about YaraLiva NITRABOR

YaraLiva TROPICOTE

YaraLiva TROPICOTE

Lettuce (field grown): Apply 400 to 600 kg/ha in the base dressing or broadcast

Read more about YaraLiva TROPICOTE

YaraVita STOPIT

YaraVita STOPIT

Lettuce (field grown): 2 to 3 applications of 5 l/ha commencing 10 to 14 days after transplanting or emergence, with 10 to 14 day intervals between applications. Water rate: 500 l/ha.

Read more about YaraVita STOPIT

Other recommended products

YaraLiva CALCINIT
Lettuce (fertigated): Crop specific recipes for 2 tank (A & B tank) systems can be produced for protected crops using the Yara Fertigation Plan, for more details contact your local Yara area manager.