It can be mistaken for ordinary leaf scorch caused by cultural practices such as over-fertilization.

Sometimes it is traceable to over-fertilization, sometimes excess moisture.

Over-fertilization of a vital nutrient can be as detrimental as underfertilization.

By their nature, organic fertilizers increase physical and biological nutrient storage mechanisms in soils, mitigating risks of over-fertilization.

Land degradation is a critical agricultural problem, caused by inappropriate use of agricultural land, overgrazing, over-fertilization , and deforestation.

In the case of leaf scorch through over-fertilization, recovery may take time, requiring a treatment of a slow leaching process through drip irrigation over 24-48 hours.

Erosion, poor crop rotation, over-fertilization and the loss of organic content of soils that once flourished from manure-based farming have brought a new plague to the land.

Hydroponic systems are decidedly more difficult to operate for the amateur or hobby grower, as over-fertilization is common, because there is no soil to act as a nutrient buffer.