Limited nutrient availability influences negatively biomass production. Nitrogen deficiency strongly depresses vegetation flush. According to Boussadia et al. (2010) [8], total biomass of two olive cultivars (‘Meski’ and ‘Koroneiki’) was strongly reduced (mainly caused by a decrease in leaf dry weight) under severe N deprivation, while in an out-door pot-culture experiment with castor bean plants (Ricinus communis L.), conducted by Reddy and Matcha (2010) [9], it was found that among the plant components, leaf dry weight had the greatest decrease; furthermore, root/shoot ratio increased under N deficiency [9]. Phosphorus deficiency caused reduced biomass, photosynthetic activity and nitrogen fixing ability in mungbean (Vigna aconitifolia) and mashbean (Vigna radiata) [33]. Under P deficiency conditions, genotypic variation in biomass production is evident; according to Pang et al. (2010) [34], who studied in a glasshouse experiment the response of ten perennial herbaceous legume species, found that under low P conditions several legumes produced more biomass than lucerne. Nutrient deficiency may cause physiological and metabolism abnormalities in plants, which may lead to deficiency symptoms. There are two categories of symptoms: i) General symptoms, such as limited growth and inability of reproduction (flowering and fruit setting), caused by the deficiency of many necessary macro — or micro­nutrients, and ii) typical, characteristic, deficiency symptoms, such as chlorosis, i. e. yellowing (due to Fe deficiency). In both cases biomass production is depressed. In the study of Msilini et al. (2009) [10], bicarbonate treated plants of Arabidopsis thaliana suffered from Fe deficiency displayed significantly lower biomass, leaf number and leaf surface, as compared to control plants, and showed slight yellowing of their younger leaves. Under limited nutrient availability, arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) may favor nutrient uptake and thus enhance biomass production. Hu et al. (2009) [35] refer that AMF inoculation of maize plants was likely more efficient in extremely P-limited soils. Generally, root colonization by AMF influences positively plant growth under N, P, or micronutrient deficiency conditions [36].