Plant Nutrition and Nutrients Quiz

Nutrients and Plant Growth

• Nutrients refer to inorganic ions from the soil essential for plant growth.
• Chemical forms of elements applied to plants are termed nutrients.
• Nutrition encompasses the supply and absorption of the required chemical compounds for plant growth and metabolism.

Sources of Nutrients

• Nutrients for higher plant growth come from three primary sources: atmosphere, water, and soil.
• The atmosphere provides carbon and oxygen in the form of carbon dioxide; essential for photosynthesis and aerobic respiration.
• Soil contributes to mineral ions that are vital for plant development.

Essential Mineral Elements

• The term essential mineral element was introduced by Arnon and Stout in 1939, indicating the necessity of certain elements for plant growth.
• A total of 16 essential elements are recognized for all higher plants: C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, Cl, and Mo.
• Absence of any essential element results in specific deficiency symptoms, disrupts metabolism, and can lead to premature plant death.

Macronutrients

• Macronutrients, or major nutrients, are required in larger quantities for plant growth.
• Key macronutrients include C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S.
• Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are sourced from the atmosphere and water; nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are sourced from the soil, often through chemical fertilizers.

Micronutrients

• Micronutrients, also known as trace elements, are required in smaller quantities.
• While the text does not specify which micronutrients are necessary, typical examples include iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine.

Essential Elements for Plant Growth

• Sixteen elements are essential for all higher plants: C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, Cl, Mo.
• Absence of any essential element leads to metabolic dysfunction and premature plant death.
• Deficiency symptoms are characteristic of the specific element that is lacking.

Macronutrients

• Macronutrients are required in larger quantities for plant growth.
• Key macronutrients include:
  • Carbon (C)
  • Hydrogen (H)
  • Oxygen (O) sourced from atmosphere and water.
  • Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S) sourced from soil.
• Chemical fertilizers are commonly used to supply these nutrients via soil or foliage application.

Micronutrients

• Micronutrients are needed in smaller quantities compared to macronutrients.
• These are also known as minor nutrients or trace elements.
• While not specified in the provided text, common micronutrients include Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), and Chlorine (Cl).
• Essential for various plant functions despite being required in minuscule amounts.