Describe a common nitrogen deficiency symptom in leafy vegetables, and a soil management practice to address it.

Describe a common nitrogen deficiency symptom in leafy vegetables, and a soil management practice to address it.

• A. Yellowing of older leaves (interveinal chlorosis) and stunted growth; remedy: side-dress with nitrogen fertilizer, incorporate compost or manure.
• B. Yellowing of younger leaves; remedy: remove topsoil.
• C. Purple stems; remedy: add iron.
• D. Brown spots on leaves; remedy: reduce watering.

Answer: (A)

In leafy vegetables, nitrogen is mobile inside the plant, so a deficiency shows up first as yellowing of the older leaves while the veins may stay green (interveinal chlorosis). Growth also slows, and leaves can become stunted because nitrogen is essential for chlorophyll and vegetative growth. The best remedy is to add nitrogen in a way that becomes available to the plant during active growth. Side-dressing with nitrogen fertilizer puts nitrogen near the root zone for uptake as plants grow, and incorporating compost or manure adds organic matter that microbes convert into plant-available nitrogen. This combination helps restore green color to the older leaves and supports continuing leafy growth. Other options don’t fit the typical pattern of nitrogen deficiency: yellowing of younger leaves points to different issues (like micronutrient problems), purple stems aren’t a classic nitrogen symptom, and brown spots from watering don’t address the nitrogen shortfall.

In leafy vegetables, nitrogen is mobile inside the plant, so a deficiency shows up first as yellowing of the older leaves while the veins may stay green (interveinal chlorosis). Growth also slows, and leaves can become stunted because nitrogen is essential for chlorophyll and vegetative growth.

The best remedy is to add nitrogen in a way that becomes available to the plant during active growth. Side-dressing with nitrogen fertilizer puts nitrogen near the root zone for uptake as plants grow, and incorporating compost or manure adds organic matter that microbes convert into plant-available nitrogen. This combination helps restore green color to the older leaves and supports continuing leafy growth.

Other options don’t fit the typical pattern of nitrogen deficiency: yellowing of younger leaves points to different issues (like micronutrient problems), purple stems aren’t a classic nitrogen symptom, and brown spots from watering don’t address the nitrogen shortfall.