Phosphorus summary

Phosphorus plays an important role in all living organisms and forms an essential element in plant and animal foodstuffs. It has a key position in cell metabolism and the plant’s total energy transfer. It is also a building block for the cell walls, DNA and all sorts of proteins and enzymes. The availability of phosphate is essential for young plants since approximately three-quarters of the total amount of phosphorus absorbed by the plant occurs before it is a quarter of the way through its life cycle! The biggest concentrations of phosphorus are also found in the self-developing plant parts such as the roots, side shoots and vascular tissue.

Phosphorus is a non-metal, chemical element which, because of its nature, is not found in its pure form because it is extremely reactive. It was discovered in 1669 by an alchemist who was condensing urine in an attempt to make gold. Phosphate compounds are rarely found in nature in the form that plants can utilise. Ground bones (bone meal) were previously used as fertilizer and they were later treated with sulphuric acid which made the phosphates a lot easier to absorb. In the second half of the 19^th century, guano, a natural phosphate fertilizer, was dug up on a large scale and used in farming. These raw materials are currently obtained from rock phosphates which are phosphate rich ores. Some of the locations where this is mined include Morocco, Algeria and North and South America. In order to make rock phosphates suitable for use in agriculture and market gardening they are first acidified and purified. In alternative agriculture they are first finely ground or heated and are then available to the trade as expanded granules.

• In the beginning the plant has a dark green color but it’s a different dark green (blue-green) from that of a K deficiency.

• Growth in height and the development of side shoots are inhibited.

• After 2 to 3 weeks dark purple/black necrotic spots form on the older and middle-aged leaves causing them to deform.

• The purple/black necrosis later spreads out to the leaf stalks. The leaves turn, curl badly and die.

Developments in chronological order:

Symptoms

Certain phosphorus symptoms that are described in the literature should not be confused with a nitrogen deficiency. In cannabis, a phosphorus deficiency is not particularly characterised by striking purple colouration of the stems and leaf stalks, but by a small plant that has purple/black necrotic leaf parts that deform the leaf and cause it to curl up later.

Development:

• In the beginning the plant has a dark green color but it’s a different dark green (blue-green) from that of a K deficiency.

• Growth in height and the development of side shoots are inhibited.

• After 2 to 3 weeks dark purple/black necrotic spots form on the older and middle-aged leaves causing them to deform.

• The purple/black necrosis later spreads out to the leaf stalks. The leaves turn, curl badly and die.

Possible causes of Phosphorus deficiency:

Because phosphate is almost always found in very low concentrations in the environment the affinity of plant cells for phosphate is very considerable and it is absorbed by the entire root.

Deficiencies are therefore quite unusual except for:

• Conditions where the pH is too high (>pH7) in the growing medium. Under these circumstance the plants can barely absorb phosphorous at all and insoluble phosphorus compounds form in the soil.

• If the growing medium is rich in iron or zinc or if it is too acidic.

• Because of soil fixation.

What should you do?

Inorganic phosphates in ion form are absorbed very easily. As far as is known, plants do not absorb phosphorous in its organic form but inorganic phosphates can be released by the decomposition of organic soil particles. Because of the residual effect of phosphate it’s often the case that the older the ground the richer it will be in phosphate. Using fertilizer that contains phosphate, after it has been established that there is a deficiency, often has little effect. This is because hardly any phosphate enters the growing medium due to precipitation or absorption and any growth disorders that occur in the young plant hardly respond at all to repair at a later date. Because of this the phosphate fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed through the soil.

• Prevention is better than cure, use good soil and/or a good fertilizer. Go to your specialist trade shop for expert advice.
• If the pH is too high it is best to use a diluted solution of phosphoric acid to acidify the growing medium. Safe pH values for hydro: 5.2 – 6.2, clay soil: 6 – 7, potting compost and sandy soil: 5.5 – -6.5.
• Alternative fertilizers that contain phosphate include: guano, blood meal, bone meal, rock phosphates, Thomas slag and semi-liquid manure. The disadvantages of these is that their phosphate content varies greatly and absorption is often only moderate. How finely the rock phosphates are ground and acidifying them before use will improve their solubility. It is best to use products where the packaging guarantees certain percentages.

Warning: Excess phosphate damages the environment and can cause all sorts of side effects such as zinc, copper or magnesium deficiencies.

That’s really what it is about, isn’t it? How do I know whether I, or someone I care about, have a drug or alcohol problem? What are the signs and symptoms?

If you are wondering whether you or someone else has a drug or alcohol problem, the probability is HIGH that there is, in fact, a problem. Generally, we don’t wonder whether someone has a “problem” if there is not a problem. The rest of the signs and symptoms might help you quit “wondering” and take action:

Health and behavior

- Continuing to use even though you have health problems that are affected or caused by your use.
- Irritability, anger, hostility, fatigue, agitation, anxiety, depression, psychosis (seeing or hearing things that are not there), lack of coordination, difficulty concentrating .
Financial and legal issues
- Spending money on drugs/alcohol that is needed for paying bills or inability to keep track of money that is spent, collection agencies calling.
- Being arrested, doing things that you would normally not do, such as stealing to obtain drugs .
- Continued use despite legal and other consequences is a sure sign of addiction.
Employment or school
- Continuing to use drugs/alcohol even though you realize your job or education is in jeopardy.
- Missing work or school, or going in late due to use.

Family and friends

- Feeling annoyed when other people comment on, or criticize your use of drugs/alcohol. Choosing drugs/alcohol over family and friends is a sign of addiction. Addicted people are defensive, protecting their use.
- Feeling remorse or guilt after using drugs/alcohol.
- Associating with questionable acquaintances or frequenting out of the ordinary locations to purchase or use drugs.

Social life
- Scheduling your day around using drugs/alcohol.
- Focusing recreational activities around obtaining drugs/alcohol, using drugs/alcohol, or recovering from drug/alcohol use. Addicted people are preoccupied with their substance use as it takes a progressively more important role in their lives.
- Seeking friendships with people who use and neglecting, even alienating, important relationships with people who do not use.
- Using drugs/alcohol when alone.

Cravings and relapse
- Strong and overwhelming desire to use at a specific time of day or several times a day.
- Drug/alcohol seeking behaviors.
- Trying to stop or control using the drug/alcohol but failing more than once.
- Feeling that you must have the drug to deal with your problems.

Tolerance

- Tolerance means that it takes more of the substance to “get off”. In order to feel the same effect, one has to use more of the drug/alcohol than intended and using it more frequently. The exception to this is marijuana, cannabis, and hashish which store in the fat cells of the brain making it easier to high on lesser quantities.
- Tolerance is a measure of addiction and suggests that, if one quits, withdrawal symptoms will begin.
- Blackouts – Continued functioning, without any memory of what happened or what was done later, is a sure sign that tolerance has increased addiction and that withdrawal symptoms will be present when one stops using.

Withdrawal Symptoms
- Cocaine: Agitation, insomnia, anxiety, depression, anger, cravings, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, shakes, irritability, muscle pain
- Anti-anxiety medications (tranquilizers): Sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, feeling shaky, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, and in extreme cases, seizures
- Painkillers/Heroin: Dilated pupils, goose bumps, watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, chills, nausea, muscle cramps, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, shakes, sweats, feeling jittery, irritable, panic, tremors
- Methamphetamine: Fatigue, disturbed sleeping patterns, irritability, intense hunger, moderate to severe depression, anxiety, psychotic reactions

Effects on memory and motivation

- Impairments in learning, memory and cognitive functioning.
- Losing interest in activities and hobbies that were once pleasurable.

Risky behavior

- Drinking & driving.
- Going to crime-ridden areas or association with “seedy” characters in order to “score” drugs.
- Criminal or unsafe, irregular activity to get drugs or money to buy drugs.
- Sharing needles .
- Having promiscuous or unsafe sex.

Signs and symptoms of Cannabis use (Marijuana and Hashish)

- Heightened visual and auditory perceptions and increased sensitivity in taste.
- Increased appetite.
- Problems with memory, difficulty concentrating, paranoid thinking.
- Decreased coordination, slowed reaction time.
- Bloodshot eyes, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate.

If you, or someone you know, have one or more of these signs or symptoms there is a good possibility that you might have a substance abuse problem. Help is available but, over time, these signs and symptoms tend to get worse – not better – on their own. Treatment works!