Manganese Deficiency
Manganese deficiency is most prevalent in calcareous soils, the pH of which varies from 7.3 to 8.5, and
the amounts of free calcium carbonate (CaCO
3) also vary
(68). The pH of calcareous soils is well
buffered by the neutralizing effect of calcium carbonate
(69). Soils that have a high organic content, low
bulk density, and a low concentration of readily reducible manganese in the soil are also susceptible to
producing manganese deficiency. Climatically, cool and temperate conditions are most commonly associated
with manganese deficiency, although there have been reports on the same from tropical to arid
areas. Drier seasons have been reported to relieve
(70) or to exacerbate
(71) manganese deficiency.
