Plant Health Initiative

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Disease: Iron Deficiency Chlorosis

Basics

Symptoms

Links to state resources

Founded by the North Central Soybean Research Program --and funded by the Soybean Checkoff – this website is a portal to current, science-based information on soybean pests and diseases, from university soybean researchers throughout the 12-state region.

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Iron Deficiency Chlorosis - Scouting

Iron deficiency symptoms in a low-lying area of a soybean field.
Photo credit: Edwin J. Penas and Richard A. Wiese, University of Nebraska

Take a soil sample at the same place the plant sample is collected.

Soybean with iron chlorosis usually first shows up in low and wet areas of soybean fields. These fields often have high pH (greater than 7) and poor drainage.

Submit both a plant and a soil sample for diagnosis

To determine the primary cause of the leaf chlorosis, submit a plant sample to the diagnostic clinic in your area. Check in the Diagnostic Tools menu for how and where to submit a sample.

Information on the soil conditions in which the affected plants are growing may help the diagnosis. Take a soil sample at the same place the plant sample was taken, and submit this to your soil testing lab to determine soil pH, percentage of free calcium carbonate, and soluble salts.