Role of Manganese

Manganese is necessary in photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and to form other compounds required for plant metabolism.

Soils in which  deficiency is prominent

Manganese deficiencies mainly occur on organic soils, high-pH soils, sandy soils low in organic matter, and on over-limed soils. Soil manganese may be less available in dry, well-aerated soils, but can become more available under wet soil conditions when manganese is reduced to the plant-available form. Conversely, manganese toxicity can result in some acidic, high-manganese soils. Uptake of manganese decreases with increased soil pH and is adversely affected by high levels of available iron in soils.

Symptoms of Deficiency

 Inter-veinal chlorosis is a characteristic manganese-deficiency symptom. In very severe manganese deficiencies, brown necrotic spots appear on leaves, resulting in premature leaf drop. Delayed maturity is another deficiency symptom in some species. Whitish-gray spots on leaves of some cereal crops and shortened internodes in cotton are other manganese-deficiency symptoms.