Soil Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium in Soil

• Sandy soils, particularly those that occur in tropical climates, such as Florida and Hawaii, are especially prone to magnesium deficiencies. Magnesium can easily leach from the sandy soil that occur in these areas. In other soil types, high levels of nitrogen, potassium or calcium can cause magesium to leach out of soil. Palm trees are among the plants that are most susceptible to magnesium deficiencies.

Magnesium Deficiencies

• Magnesium plays several important roles in plant development. As a key part of the chlorophyll molecule, a sufficient amount of magnesium in soil gives plants a healthy, green color. Additionally, the enzymes plants use to grow new plant parts are activated by magnesium. These two key roles played by magnesium give a clue as to physical symptoms of magnesium deficiency in plants.

Physical Symptoms in Plants

• Symptoms of magnesium deficiency of course vary among different plants, but there are a few general symptoms that are typical of all plants suffering magnesium deficiency. Since magnesium is key to chlorophyll production, one of the earliest symptoms of magnesium deficiency in plants if chlorosis, a condition characterized by foliage discoloration due to insufficient chlorophyll. Discoloration occurs on different parts of the leaf depending on the plant in question. If magnesium deficiency is not corrected, foliage will wither and may even defoliate in extreme cases.

Treating a Magnesium Deficiency

• Luckily, there are several simple methods for correcting a magnesium deficiency in soil when you notice chloritic symptoms on your plants. Incorporating dolomite or dolomitic limestone into you soil can bring magnesium levels back toward the ideal. Note, however, that these two compounds will also raise the pH of your soil. If your soil pH needs to remain the same, use Epsom salts or potassium magnesium sulfate instead. After incorporating the magnesium into your soil, carefully monitor your plants to see if they return to normal growth.