What is Iron deficiency (plant disorder)?

Iron deficiency is a plant disorder also known as "lime-induced chlorosis". It can be confused with manganese deficiency. Soil iron concentration is high, but can become unavailable for absorption if soil pH is higher than 6.5. Also, iron deficiency can develop if the soil is too waterlogged or has been overfertilised. Excess of elements such as manganese in the soil can interfere with plant iron uptake triggering iron deficiency.

Iron is needed to produce chlorophyll, hence its deficiency causes chlorosis. For example, iron is used in the active site of glutamyl-tRNA reductase, an enzyme needed for the formation of 5-Aminolevulinic acid which is a precursor of heme and chlorophyll.