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# Diagnose and Respond to Iron Deficiency in Pineapple

> Identify iron deficiency (chlorosis) in pineapple from yellow young leaves with green veins on high-pH soils, and correct it with foliar chelated iron, acidifying fertilizers, and pH management.

Iron chlorosis on pineapple is a **high-pH problem**, not a soil-supply problem. Iron is abundant in most soils but locked up above pH 6.5, particularly on coral, calcareous, and over-limed blocks. The signature is **yellow young leaves with green veins** in the center whorl.

**Regional priority:** High on coral, calcareous, and over-limed soils; common on Cayenne and Josapine grown on limestone-influenced land.

## When pineapple is most vulnerable

At all phases if soil pH is high. Most visible in the fastest-growing months (early to late vegetative) when new leaf demand for iron is highest.

## How iron deficiency shows in satellite data

* **NDRE below phase baseline** on affected zones - iron chlorosis depletes chlorophyll in young leaves directly.
* Pattern often matches known calcareous or high-pH zones (mapped soil zones or spot-lime history).
* Distinguish from N deficiency by the young-leaf pattern in the field; satellite alone cannot separate them.

## Field symptoms

* **Center whorl and young leaves pale yellow** with distinct green veins (interveinal chlorosis)
* **Older leaves remain green** (iron is immobile in the plant)
* **Small, distorted new growth** if deficiency is severe
* **Stunted plants** in chronic cases
* Symptoms disappear from newest leaves within 2 to 3 weeks of foliar chelated iron

## Reduce the damage by

* **Foliar chelated iron (Fe-EDDHA or Fe-DTPA)** for fast correction - repeat every 3 to 4 weeks until new growth is green.
* **Acidify the root zone** with ammonium sulphate rather than urea; over time, lowers pH.
* **Avoid over-liming** - do not raise pH above 6.0 on pineapple blocks.
* **Apply elemental sulfur** on high-pH blocks to gradually acidify.
* **Avoid alkaline irrigation water** or acidify it if unavoidable.
* **Do not use ferrous sulphate as a soil amendment** on high-pH soils - it re-precipitates within days. Chelates are required.
* **Soil pH test** every cycle on calcareous blocks; target pH 5.0 to 5.5.

## Set an alert for early warning

<Tip>
  Turn the diagnosis into a trigger. Iron chlorosis is stable and pH-driven, so schedule pH and foliar reminders rather than event alerts.
</Tip>

Recommended settings for iron on pineapple:

* **NDRE anomaly alert** - trigger on persistent (> 30 days) NDRE anomaly in a specific zone.
* **Soil pH reminder** - annual check on calcareous or over-limed blocks.
* **Foliar-application follow-up** - schedule a re-check 3 weeks after every chelated iron spray.

## Related

* [Pineapple Diagnosis](/guides/Crop/Pineapple/pineapple-diagnosis)
* [Nitrogen](/guides/Crop/Pineapple/nutrient/nitrogen) - similar chlorosis but affects older leaves.
* [Zinc](/guides/Crop/Pineapple/nutrient/zinc) - overlapping young-leaf symptoms; separate by leaf size and shape.
* [Set up automated crop alerts](/guides/alerts-notifications)