When diagnosing nutrient deficiencies, which plant part should be prioritized for immobile nutrients?

When diagnosing nutrient deficiencies, prioritizing newly formed leaves is essential for immobile nutrients. Immobile nutrients, such as calcium, iron, and magnesium, remain in the plant tissue and are not easily transported from older leaves to newer growth. As a result, any deficiency in these nutrients will first manifest in the young, actively growing tissues, such as freshly emerged leaves. Inspecting these parts helps in accurately identifying deficiencies since they develop symptoms more rapidly than older foliage.

For example, if a plant is deficient in calcium, you would observe issues like blossom end rot in tomatoes, primarily seen in the newly formed fruit and leaves. Therefore, looking at these young plant parts provides a clearer indicator of the current nutrient status and any deficiencies related to immobile nutrients.