Explore the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory
Diagnose a mystery plant's hidden nutrient deficiency from real symptom patterns - which leaves are affected and how - then submit your answer.
- Free to use
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Runs in your browser
Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.
See it in action
The Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory with sample data entered and the result showing.
What is the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory?
Diagnose a mystery plant's hidden nutrient deficiency from real symptom patterns - which leaves are affected and how - then submit your answer. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.
Farmers and agronomists diagnose nutrient deficiencies from exactly these leaf patterns to decide which fertiliser a crop actually needs, instead of guessing.
3 steps to your result
Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.
What you get
Mobile nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium) are pulled from older leaves and resent to new growth when scarce, so older leaves show symptoms first.
Immobile nutrients (iron, calcium) cannot be relocated, so new growth shows symptoms first while old leaves stay normal.
Nitrogen deficiency causes uniform yellowing of old leaves; iron deficiency causes interveinal yellowing of young leaves with veins still green.
Watch which leaves - old or young - show the symptom first before guessing.
Check the symptom reference tab if you are unsure of a pattern.
Try to diagnose correctly on your first try three mystery plants in a row.
Used for
Pick one to see how it fits.
Teachers
For teachers: project the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory on the board, let students predict the result, then run it together and test this: Check the symptom reference tab if you are unsure of a pattern. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Try it freeHow it compares
A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.
| This simulation | Textbook diagram | |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive | Drag, tap and change settings | Fixed picture |
| Install | Nothing to install | Not needed |
| Cost | Free to use | Depends on the book |
Questions people ask
Why do nitrogen and iron deficiency look so different even though both cause yellowing?
Nitrogen is mobile and gets moved out of old leaves first, so they yellow uniformly; iron is immobile and stays put, so only the new leaves that never got enough iron turn pale between the veins.
How can you tell nitrogen deficiency from magnesium deficiency?
Both affect old leaves first, but nitrogen deficiency yellows the whole leaf including the veins, while magnesium deficiency leaves the veins green (interveinal chlorosis).
Is the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory free to use?
Yes. The Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Botany group of AZRS simulations.
Does the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 6 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.
How do I use the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory?
1. In the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory, use the controls to change Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), and more. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory, press "New mystery plant" to start, reset or change what is happening. 3. Start with this experiment: Watch which leaves - old or young - show the symptom first before guessing. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Plant Nutrient Deficiency Laboratory responds in real time. 4. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: Mobile nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium) are pulled from older leaves and resent to new growth when scarce, so older leaves show symptoms first.
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