Nutrition & Root-Zone Chemistry
Magnesium, Chlorophyll & Enzyme Function
Magnesium sits at the center of chlorophyll and supports many enzyme systems and phosphate-related reactions. Interveinal chlorosis on older tissue can be consistent with magnesium limitation, but it is not unique to it.
Key concepts
- Magnesium is structurally central to chlorophyll
- It is relatively mobile within the plant
- High potassium or calcium conditions can affect magnesium uptake balance
- Root-zone pH and function influence availability
What to measure or observe
- Note whether interveinal symptoms begin on older or younger tissue
- Review root-zone pH and EC
- Review calcium, potassium, and magnesium input balance
- Compare symptom progression after measured changes
Common mistakes
- Calling all interveinal chlorosis magnesium deficiency
- Adding magnesium without reviewing pH
- Ignoring cation competition
- Using leaf color without tissue-age context
Visuals this lesson still needs
- Chlorophyll magnesium diagram
- Old-versus-new interveinal pattern
- Cation balance concept
- Magnesium look-alike panel