Symptoms
Old leaves bluish-green with scorched margins (brown or grey). Margins may first appear light green and later turn necrotic. Necrosis progresses from the margins inward to the midrib.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency
Frost and drought can cause similar symptoms
Apples - Necrosis
Symptoms
Old leaves bluish-green with scorched margins (brown or grey). Margins may first appear light green and later turn necrotic. Necrosis progresses from the margins inward to the midrib.
Reasons
Potassium deficiency
Frost and drought can cause similar symptoms
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
New growth is healthy
Cold hardiness is improved
Flower number increases
Fruit are longer and are generally more intensely coloured
Fruit may mature earlier and have improved flavour