Phosphorus deficiency

Phosphorus is used by plants in numerous processes such as photophosphorylation, genetic transfer, the transportation of nutrients, and phospholipid cell membranes.

When phosphorus is present in inadequate levels, genetic processes such as cell division and plant growth are impaired.

The stunted growth induced by phosphorus deficiency has been correlated with smaller leaf sizes and a lessened number of leaves.

Photosynthesis, the main function of plant cells that produces energy from sunlight and water, usually remains at a normal rate under a phosphorus-deficient state.

In some plants the leaf pigment change as a result of this process can turn leaves a dark purplish color.

This method however can be an unclear diagnosis because other plant environment factors can result in similar discoloration symptoms.

[5] The soil testing with colorimetric analysis, while widely used, can be subject to diagnostic problems as a result of interference from other present compounds and elements.

[6] Additional phosphorus detection methods such as spectral radiance and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP) are also implemented with the goal of improving reading accuracy.

Planters add phosphorus into soil with bone meal, rock phosphate, manure, and phosphate-fertilizers.

A large portion of phosphorus in soil is in chemical compounds that plants can't absorb.

Soil acidity, measured on the pH scale, partly dictates what chemical arrangements that phosphorus forms.