Nitrogen Deficiency of Peach
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Nitrogen deficiency is evident as light green to yellow-green, undersized foliage, which occurs uniformly over an entire tree. Annual terminal growth is reduced, and shoots are slender. Lower yields result due to reduced fruit size.
Nitrogen deficiency.
(Photo: John Strang, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Nitrogen levels change rapidly, making soil testing unreliable.
- Monitor nitrogen levels through tissue testing and annual tree growth observations.
- Apply a late winter nitrogen application and a second application after fruit set based on tissue tests, cropping history, and amount of nitrogen applied the previous season.
