What Is Fertilizer Burn?
Fertilizer burn is a condition which emerges in plants which have been over fertilized. With fertilizer burn, the excess fertilizer in the soil acts to actively pull water out of the plant, causing dessication and interfering with plant growth. Fertilizer burn is visible as an area of browning, yellowing, and withering. If it is allowed to persist, the plant can actually die, especially if it is at a vulnerable stage of development. The mechanism behind fertilizer burn is fairly simple. When plants are fertilized normally, the plant absorbs salts and minerals from the fertilizer, maintaining a high osmotic pressure in the plant in addition to providing nutrients. Since water flows from areas of low to high pressure, the high osmotic pressure in the plant helps pull water up into the plant so that it can meet its water needs.
