Symptoms
Tips and margins of older leaves get chlorotic spots with increasing size which become necrotic later on. On account of scorched leaf margins leaves are deformed.
With more severe deficiency the leaf color turns to mottled dark green and the plant appears wilted. Occasionally leaves are less crinkled than normal and shape of the leaves becomes more rounded.
Growth of the plants is restricted, they do not form heads or the heads remain loose.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency
Symptomes may be confused with high salt concentration of the growing substrate. In this case the veins of the leaves become brown in addition to dry leaf margins.
Lettuce - Discolouration
Symptoms
Potassium deficiency causes longer main roots than normal and only few secondary roots. They show yellowish color. Often roots are slimy .
Reasons
Potassium deficiency on roots
Lettuce - Chlorosis
Symptoms
Tips and margins of older leaves get chlorotic spots with increasing size which become necrotic later on. On account of scorched leaf margins leaves are deformed.
With more severe deficiency the leaf color turns to mottled dark green and the plant appears wilted. Maybe leaves are less crinkled than normal and shape of the leaves becomes more rounded.
Growth of the plants is restricted, they do not form heads or the heads remain loose.
Potassium deficiency causes longer main roots than normal and only few secondary roots. Often roots are slimy and yellowish in color.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency on head and roots
Lettuce - Necrosis
Symptoms
Symptoms of potassium deficiency start on older leaves. The leaf color turns to mottled dark green and the plant appears wilted. Tips and margins get chlorotic spots with increasing size which become necrotic later on. On account of scorched leaf margins leaves are deformed. On the photo necrotic areas appear along the main veins. More typical are scorched zones on the margins.
Occasionally leaves are less crinkled than normal and shape of the leaves becomes more rounded.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency on leaves
Lettuce - Deformation
Symptoms
Tips and margins of older leaves get chlorotic spots with increasing size which become necrotic later on. On account of scorched leaf margins leaves are deformed.
With more severe deficiency the leaf color turns to mottled dark green and the plant appears wilted. Maybe leaves are less crinkled than normal and shape of the leaves becomes more rounded.
Growth of the plants is restricted, they do not form heads or the heads remain loose.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency (right) compared to optimum supply(left)
Symptoms may be confused with high salt concentration of the growing substrate. In this case the veins of the leaves become brown in addition to dry leaf margins.
Potassium deficiency made worse by
Acidic soils (low pH)
Sandy or light soils (leaching)
Drought conditions
High rainfall (leaching)
or heavy irrigation
Heavy clay (illite) soils
Soils with low K reserves
Magnesium rich soils
Potassium is important for
Internal water regulation
Vigorous growth and healthy foliage
Required in large amounts
Yara recommended fertilizers for Potassium
YaraVita FOLIAR POTASH
Lettuce (field grown): 5 l/ha 14 to 20 days after the 4 to 6 leaf stage. Repeat if necessary at 10 day intervals. Note: Final application to be made at least one month before harvest. Water rate: 500 l/ha.