Results of 2009 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest
Best Overall Photo
 |
Grand Prize (US$200):
Cui Rongzong, Shandong Soil & Fertilizer Institute, Jinan, Shandong, China, took this excellent close-up of iron (Fe) deficiency in peanut just prior to the crop’s flowering stage. Plants are clearly displaying the symptoms of strongly chlorotic young leaves while leaf veins remain green. “The image was taken near Ouyu Village, Zaozhuang City in Shandong. The site has characteristically high soil pH values and Fe fertilizers have not been used for many years. Soil test Fe was measured at 3.3 mg/kg and the active Fe content of young leaves was determined to be 10.4 mg/kg.”
|
Nitrogen
 |
1st Prize (US$150):
M.R. Umesh, Post Doctoral Fellow at New Mexico State, submitted this field trial shot of nitrogen (N) deficiency at the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, University of Agricultural Sciences, in Bangalore, Karnataka. “The photos were taken 69 days after planting and showed a significant N deficiency through a side-by-side comparison of a 100 kg N/ha application (left) and a N omission plot (right). Plant tissue analysis and soil test values both indicated a deficiency of available soil N.”
|
Runner-up (US$75) - Teff: Assen Yesuf, Oklahoma State University, Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
| |
Phosphorus
 |
1st Prize (US$150):
S. Srinivasan, Agricultural College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam, Vallanad, India, shot this vivid example of phosphorus (P) deficiency in a 4-month old cassava crop. “I captured this image of a plant that received no P after planting. The deficiency was confirmed with chlorotic lower leaves while upper leaves had a healthy green appearance. The lower yellow leaves eventually turned purple and shriveled. Thin stems and narrow leaf lobes and poor root growth were also noticed. A history of mono-cropping cassava has depleted soil P. The soil test revealed that P content was very low (less than 2.8 mg P/kg). Leaf tissue analysis also registered a lower value of 0.19%.
|
Runner-up - Canola: Lu Jianwei, Huazhong Agricultural University, Environment and Resources College, Wuchang, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| |
Potassium
 |
1st Prize (US$150):
S. Srinivasan, Agricultural College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam, Vallanad, India, also submitted this crisp example of potassium (K) deficiency “I photographed this view of K deficiency in this 6-month old sugarcane crop in Tamil Nadu. The deficiency was confirmed by typical yellow-orange chlorosis of lower leaf tips and borders. Stalks were slender and older leaves had a fired appearance. Fully developed leaves had 0.9% K.”
|
Runner-up (US$75) - Cluster bean, Gaur Gum: Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
| |
Other (Mn)
 |
1st Prize (US$150):
Hendra Sugianto, of Sampoerna Agro, Sukamara, Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia, shot this close-up view of manganese (Mn) deficiency. “The deficiency was discovered within a 2-year old (immature) oil palm stand. Plants symptoms dissipated and stands recovered with an application of 300 g MnSO4 or a foliar spraying at 0.20%.”
|
Runner-up (US$75) - Mn-Deficient Wheat: U.S. Sadana, Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
| |
Abbreviations and notes:
N = nitrogen; P = phosphorus; K = potassium; Mn = Manganese; ppm = parts per million.
