Plant Nutrients PDF

# Plant Nutrients The image shows a plant with roots growing in the soil. The text explains that nutrients in the soil can be supplemented through the application of fertilizers or manures. ## Nutrient Management Nutrient management includes: * The type of fertilizer to be applied. * The rate...

# Plant Nutrients The image shows a plant with roots growing in the soil. The text explains that nutrients in the soil can be supplemented through the application of fertilizers or manures. ## Nutrient Management Nutrient management includes: * The type of fertilizer to be applied. * The rate of application. * The method of application. Nutrients are taken up by the fine root hairs, not by the big roots. Even the largest of trees have many small, fine root hairs to absorb the nutrients and water they need. The larger roots are used for supporting the tree and for storage of water and other plant food. ## Elements There are a total of 17 nutritive elements, which are necessary for the growth of plants. All elements are equally important irrespective of their requirement or presence in a plant. According to **Arnon and Stout (1939)**, an element must meet the following three criteria: * A plant cannot complete its life cycle in the absence of that mineral element. * The element is specific and cannot be replaced. ## Classification of Plant Nutrients | Basic Nutrients | Primary Nutrients | Secondary Nutrients | Micronutrients | |---|---|---|---| | Carbon (C) | Nitrogen (N) | Calcium (C) | Iron (Fe) | | Hydrogen (H) | Phosphorus (P) | Magnesium (Mg) | Manganese (Mn) | | Oxygen (O₂) | Potash (K) | Sulphur (S) | Zinc (Zn) | | | | | Copper (Cu) | | | | | Boron (B) | | | | | Chlorine (CI) | | | | | Molybdenum (Mo) | | | | | Nickel (Ni) | ## Basic Nutrients Basic nutrients are Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O). These elements are obtained from air and water. ## Macro-Nutrients ### Primary Nutrients Primary Nutrients consist of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These nutrients are supplied through fertilizers. ### Secondary Nutrients Secondary nutrients are Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur. ## Micro-Nutrients Micro-nutrients are also known as minor or trace elements. They include Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Chlorine (CI), Boron (B) Molybdenum (Mo) and Nickel (Ni). ## Elemental Roles * **Non-mineral elements:** Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O). * **Primary nutrients:** Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). * **Secondary nutrients:** Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulphur (S). * **Energy exchange:** Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O). The image shows a plant with different elements labelled around different sections of the plant, noting that some are unique to young leaf tissue only. ## Plant Nutrient Deficiency Terminology | Term | Definition | |---|---| | Burning | Severe localized yellowing; scorched appearance. | | Chlorosis | General yellowing of the plant tissue; lack of chlorophyll. | | Generalized | Symptoms not limited to one area of a plant, but rather spread over the entire plant. | | Immobile Nutrient | Not able to be moved from one part of the plant to another. | | Interveinal Chlorosis | Yellowing in between leaf veins, yet veins remain green. | | Localized | Symptoms limited to one leaf or one section of the leaf or plant. | | Mobile Nutrient | Able to be moved from one plant part to another. | | Mottling | Spotted, irregular, inconsistent pattern. | | Necrosis | Death of plant tissue; tissue browns and dies. | | Stunting | Decreased growth; shorter height of the affected plants. | | Hidden Hunger | Plants that shows no symptoms of deficiency. | ## Nutrients, Functions and Deficiency Symptoms ### Nitrogen (N) #### Functions * Promotes the growth of leaves and stems. * Enhances the dark green colour in plants and improves the quality of foliage. * Necessary for the development of cell protein and chlorophyll. * Improves the uptake of other nutrients, like phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphur. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Loss of vigour and yellowing of green parts. * Shortening of the stem, leaves become pale yellow and remain small in size. * Slow growth and a plant becomes dwarfed. * On excess shows dark green color and luxurious vegetative growth. ### Phosphorus (P) #### Functions * Stimulates early formation and growth of roots. * Provides for fast and vigorous growth and speedy maturity. * Increases number of tubers. * Necessary for the enzyme action of many plant processes. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Growth of plant is retarded at early stages. * Older leaves curled and purplish color. * Some time marginal scorching. * Slow maturity vegetative growth continues beyond normal time. * Delayed tuberization. ### Potassium (K) #### Functions * Helps in carbohydrates and protein synthesis. * Helps in the transfer of carbohydrates from leaves to roots. * Increases disease resistance, vigour and hardiness to drought and frost. * Increases yield by increasing the size of tubers, hence, important for processing cultivars. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Coincides with the onset of tuber initiation. * Deficiency symptoms appear as dark bluish green leaves and shortened internodes. * Terminal leaves show bronzing accompanied by necrotic spots. ### Sulphur (S) #### Functions * Promotes root growth and vigorous vegetative growth. * Essential for protein formation. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Shoots become light green; veins on the leaves also turn yellowing of leaves. * Yellowing starts from upper leaves and the plant shows chlorosis. * Severe deficiency results in reddening of the stem and curling of leaves inwards. ### Calcium (Ca) #### Functions * Improves plant vigour. * Influences the intake and synthesis of other plant nutrients. * Improves specific gravity of tubers, and thus, enhances tuber quality for processing. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Failure of development of terminal buds at apical tips. * Small leaves. * Leaves do not develop normally and have wrinkled appearance. * In mild deficiency, a light green band appears along the margin of leaves of terminal buds. ### Magnesium (Mg) #### Functions * Influences the intake of other essential nutrients. * Helps in the assimilation of fats. * Assists in the translocation of phosphorus and fats. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Green parts between veins in leaves become pale, though the veins remain green (Interveinal chlorosis). * Leaf tips curl up. * Leaflets become thick and roll upwards. ### Zinc (Zn) #### Functions * Synthesis of tryptophan. * Helps in enzyme action. * Essential for protein synthesis and seed production. Fastens the rate of maturity. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Younger leaves become yellow. * Leaves show inter-veinal necrosis, while midrib remains green. * In tomato, small narrow yellow leaves with black spots appear and there is stunted growth in plants. ### Iron (Fe) #### Functions * Essential in the enzyme system of plant metabolism. * Essential for the synthesis of enzymes responsible for chlorophyll synthesis in plants. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Yellowing of younger leaf blades, while veins and petioles remain green. * Affected plants remain small and do not respond well to normal fertilizer treatments. ### Manganese (Mn) #### Functions * Helps in the oxidation-reduction process during photosynthesis. * Essential element in respiration. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Plants show a light inter-veinal chlorosis of leaves. * Mature leaves when observed in light show netted veins. * Appearance of chlorotic and necrotic spots in inter-veinal areas of leaves. ### Copper (Cu) #### Functions * Essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll and other plant pigments. * Helps improve the flavour and the content of sugar in vegetables. * Increases the dark green colour of leaves and also the crop yield. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Necrosis on the tip of young leaves along the margin. * Defoliation. * Leaves of deficient plants curl up and their petioles bend downwards. ### Molybdenum (Mo) #### Functions * Involved in nitrogen fixation and nitrate assimilation. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Chlorotic inter-veinal mottling of lower leaves followed by marginal necrosis and infolding of leaves. * Wilting of leaves. * In cauliflower, the lamina of new leaves fails to develop and gives a whiptail appearance. ### Boron (B) #### Functions * Helps in the synthesis of the bases of RNA (ribonucleic acid). * Promotes root growth. * Enhances pollen germination and pollen tube growth, thereby, improving fruiting. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Loss of apical dominance. * Leaf blades develop pronounced crinkling. * Darkening and crackling of petioles. * Syrupy exudation from leaf blades. ### Chlorine (CI) #### Functions * Has a direct role in photosynthesis. * Necessary for shoot apex and root growth. #### Deficiency Symptoms * Chlorosis and wilting of young leaves. * Chlorosis of the inter-veinal area of leaf blade. * In severe deficiency, bronzing of the mature leaves on the upper surface. ## Macro & Micro Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms The image shows a plant with nutrient deficiency symptoms as follows: * **Boron:** Discoloration of leaf buds. Breaking and dropping of buds. * **Sulphur:** Leaves light green. Veins pale green. No spots. * **Manganese:** Leaves pale in color. Veins and venules dark green and reticulated. * **Zinc:** Leaves pale, narrow and short. Veins dark green. Dark spots on leaves and edges. * **Magnesium:** Paleness from leaf edges. No spots. Edges have cup shaped folds. Leaves die and drop in extreme deficiency. * **Phosphorus:** Plant short and dark green. In extreme deficiencies turn brown or black. Bronze colour under the leaf. * **Calcium:** Plant dark green. Tender leaves pale. Drying starts from the tips. Eventually leaf bundles die. * **Iron:** Leaves pale. No spots. Major veins green. * **Copper:** Pale pink between the veins. Wilt and drop. * **Molybdenum:** Leaves light green/lemon yellow/orange. Spots on whole leaf except veins. Sticky secretions from under the leaf. * **Potassium:** Small spots on the tips, edges of pale leaves. Spots turn rusty. Folds at tips. * **Nitrogen:** Stunted growth. Extremely pale color. Upright leaves with light green/yellowish. Appear burnt in extreme deficiency. ## Principal Forms of Nutrient Uptake The image shows a table of cations and anions. | Element | Chemical Symbol | Plant Available Forms | Element | Chemical Symbol | Plant Available Forms | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Nitrogen (Ammonium) | NH₄ | NH₄⁺ | Nitrogen (Nitrate) | NO₃ | NO₃^- | | Potassium | K | K⁺ | Phosphorus | P | PO₄^3-, HPO₄^2-, H₂PO₄^- | | Calcium | Ca | Ca²⁺ | Sulfur | S | SO₄^2-, SO₃^2- | | Magnesium | Mg | Mg²⁺ | Boron | B | HBO₃^2-, BO₃^3- | | Iron | Fe | Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ | Molybdenum | Mo | MoO₄^2- | | Manganese | Mn | Mn²⁺ | Chlorine | CI | CI^- | | Zinc | Zn | Zn²⁺ | | | | | Copper | Cu | Cu⁺, Cu²⁺ | | | | ## Diseases or Symptoms Caused Due To Deficiency of Nutrients in Plants The image shows a table of nutrient deficiencies and their symptoms: S.No. | Deficiency of Nutrient | Cause Diseases/ Symptoms | |---|---|---| | 1 | N | Buttoning in cauliflower | | 2 | Ca | Cavity Spot in Carrot | | 3 | Cu | Dieback And Little Leaf In Citrus | | 4 | Bo | Internal Necrosis in Aonla, Browning in Caulifowers, Tomato Cracking | | 5 | Zn | Whit Bud in Maize, Khaira Disease in Paddy | | 6 | Mn | Spotted Yellow Disease in Sugarcane | | 7 | Mo | Whiptail in Cauliflower | ## Indicator Crop Plants For Various Nutrient Deficiency The image shows a table of deficient elements and their indicator plants/crops: Deficient Elements | Indicator Plant/Crops | |---|---| | N | Maize, Mustard, Small Millets | | P | Maize, Barley | | K | Maize, Potato, Tobacco, Beans | | Ca | Lucerne, Legumes | | Mg | Potato, Maize, Oat, Wheat, Pea, Bean | | Fe | Sorghum, Barley | | S | Lucerne, Mustard | | Bo | Sunflower, Lucerne | | Mo | Oat, Brassica sp. | | Na | Sugarbeet | | Mn | Oat, Sugarbeet |