Melon
It is thus important to maintain strong growth and development. Manganese also improves N-utilization by the plant.
Stage | Manganese effect |
Pre-Planting | Ensure good shoot growth |
Vegetative Growth | Ensure good leaf quality and that growth is not limiting |
Flowering | Support good growth |
Fruit Fill | Promote healthy fruit-fill |
See more on Melon Growth Stages.
While rarely seen, transient deficiencies can occur in sandy or peaty soils of a high pH, and can be overcome by using micronutrient sprays (manganese is not very mobile in the plant).
Recently mature leaves show interveinal chlorosis as transparent, light green to yellowish-brown flecks. In severe instances of manganese deficiency, these flecks turn into brown necrotic spots on the leaf surface. Numerous purplish-brown spots may appear on the leaf stalk or stem.
Manganese toxicity can be a problem on acid soils (below pH 5.8). Seedlings will be stunted and have yellow crinkled leaves. On older plants the leaves turn a pale green and develop many interveinal, pinhole-sized brown lesions.
Toxicity symptoms can be confused with leaf diseases such as gummy stem blight. To avoid manganese toxicities, soil pH should be corrected to levels greater than 6.0.