Role in the plant: An important component in plant metabolic process and the internal plant transport system and root development.
Deficiency symptoms: Blue/green or purple in colour o older leaves. Stunted. According to Yara international in fruit trees, symptoms can often result in stunted or retarded growth and development in the tree at flowering and fruit development.
Toxicity symptoms: N/a
Soils that have phosphorus most prevalent: High organic matter soil. Often accumulates in soils that have been sufficiently fertilized routinely, and more deficient in virgin sandy soils.
Management remarks. Often best applied at planting in close proximity to the roots. Phosphorus availability to the plant is highly sensitive to soil acidity and therefore deficiencies are often observed on acidic soils. According to Yara international nutrient interactions between phosphorus uptake is improved in the presence of ammonium.