Essential Plant Nutrients

Essential Nutrients

• 17 essential nutrients required by plants for growth and development
• Classified into two groups: macronutrients and micronutrients

Macronutrients (6)

• Nitrogen (N)
  • Important for amino acid synthesis and protein formation
  • Deficiency: stunted growth, yellowing leaves
• Phosphorus (P)
  • Involved in energy metabolism, root development, and flower/fruit formation
  • Deficiency: stunted growth, dark green leaves
• Potassium (K)
  • Helps with overall plant health, resistance to disease, and water balance
  • Deficiency: weak stems, yellowing leaves
• Calcium (Ca)
  • Crucial for cell wall development and root growth
  • Deficiency: blossom-end rot in fruits
• Magnesium (Mg)
  • Involved in photosynthesis, cell wall development, and protein synthesis
  • Deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Sulfur (S)
  • Important for protein synthesis and enzyme function
  • Deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth

Micronutrients (8)

• Boron (B)
  • Involved in cell wall development, sugar metabolism, and flower/fruit formation
  • Deficiency: distorted leaves, brittle stems
• Copper (Cu)
  • Important for enzyme function, protein synthesis, and defense against disease
  • Deficiency: distorted leaves, dieback of shoots
• Iron (Fe)
  • Crucial for photosynthesis, respiration, and enzyme function
  • Deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Manganese (Mn)
  • Involved in photosynthesis, enzyme function, and disease resistance
  • Deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Important for nitrogen fixation, protein synthesis, and disease resistance
  • Deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Zinc (Zn)
  • Crucial for enzyme function, protein synthesis, and growth regulation
  • Deficiency: stunted growth, distorted leaves
• Chlorine (Cl)
  • Involved in photosynthesis, water balance, and disease resistance
  • Deficiency: wilting, stunted growth
• Nickel (Ni)
  • Important for enzyme function, nitrogen metabolism, and disease resistance
  • Deficiency: stunted growth, distorted leaves

Nutrient Uptake and Transport

• Plants absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots
• Nutrients are transported to the xylem, where they are carried to the leaves
• Nutrients are also stored in plant tissues and organs for later use

Essential Nutrients

• 17 essential nutrients required by plants for growth and development
• Classified into two groups: macronutrients and micronutrients

Macronutrients

• Nitrogen (N) essential for amino acid synthesis and protein formation
• Phosphorus (P) involved in energy metabolism, root development, and flower/fruit formation
• Potassium (K) helps with overall plant health, resistance to disease, and water balance
• Calcium (Ca) crucial for cell wall development and root growth
• Magnesium (Mg) involved in photosynthesis, cell wall development, and protein synthesis
• Sulfur (S) important for protein synthesis and enzyme function

Macronutrient Deficiencies

• Nitrogen (N) deficiency: stunted growth, yellowing leaves
• Phosphorus (P) deficiency: stunted growth, dark green leaves
• Potassium (K) deficiency: weak stems, yellowing leaves
• Calcium (Ca) deficiency: blossom-end rot in fruits
• Magnesium (Mg) deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Sulfur (S) deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth

Micronutrients

• Boron (B) involved in cell wall development, sugar metabolism, and flower/fruit formation
• Copper (Cu) important for enzyme function, protein synthesis, and defense against disease
• Iron (Fe) crucial for photosynthesis, respiration, and enzyme function
• Manganese (Mn) involved in photosynthesis, enzyme function, and disease resistance
• Molybdenum (Mo) important for nitrogen fixation, protein synthesis, and disease resistance
• Zinc (Zn) crucial for enzyme function, protein synthesis, and growth regulation
• Chlorine (Cl) involved in photosynthesis, water balance, and disease resistance
• Nickel (Ni) important for enzyme function, nitrogen metabolism, and disease resistance

Micronutrient Deficiencies

• Boron (B) deficiency: distorted leaves, brittle stems
• Copper (Cu) deficiency: distorted leaves, dieback of shoots
• Iron (Fe) deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Manganese (Mn) deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency: yellowing leaves, stunted growth
• Zinc (Zn) deficiency: stunted growth, distorted leaves
• Chlorine (Cl) deficiency: wilting, stunted growth
• Nickel (Ni) deficiency: stunted growth, distorted leaves

Nutrient Uptake and Transport

• Plants absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots
• Nutrients are transported to the xylem, where they are carried to the leaves
• Nutrients are also stored in plant tissues and organs for later use