7.1 Essential plant nutrients and their roles

Plants need specific nutrients to grow and thrive. These nutrients are divided into macronutrients, needed in larger amounts, and micronutrients, required in smaller quantities. Both play crucial roles in plant health and development.

Understanding plant nutrients is key to successful agriculture and gardening. Nutrient deficiencies can cause visible symptoms in plants, while proper nutrient management ensures healthy growth and optimal yields. Balancing nutrient levels is essential for plant health.

Essential Plant Nutrients

Essential plant nutrients classification

Top images from around the web for Essential plant nutrients classification

• 

  Frontiers | The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition—Current Knowledge and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | NPK macronutrients and microRNA homeostasis | Plant Science View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition—Current Knowledge and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition—Current Knowledge and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | NPK macronutrients and microRNA homeostasis | Plant Science View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Essential plant nutrients classification

• 

  Frontiers | The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition—Current Knowledge and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | NPK macronutrients and microRNA homeostasis | Plant Science View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition—Current Knowledge and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition—Current Knowledge and ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | NPK macronutrients and microRNA homeostasis | Plant Science View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Macronutrients required in larger quantities for plant growth and development
  • Primary macronutrients essential for major plant functions
    • Nitrogen (N) crucial for protein synthesis and chlorophyll production
    • Phosphorus (P) vital for energy transfer and root development
    • Potassium (K) key for enzyme activation and stomatal regulation
  • Secondary macronutrients important for various plant processes
    • Calcium (Ca) essential for cell wall formation and membrane stability
    • Magnesium (Mg) central component of chlorophyll molecule
    • Sulfur (S) necessary for amino acid synthesis and chlorophyll formation
• Micronutrients required in smaller quantities but still vital for plant health
  • Boron (B) important for cell wall formation and flower development
  • Chlorine (Cl) involved in osmotic regulation and photosynthesis reactions
  • Copper (Cu) acts as enzyme activator in photosynthesis and respiration
  • Iron (Fe) crucial for chlorophyll synthesis and electron transport
  • Manganese (Mn) essential for photosynthesis and enzyme activation
  • Molybdenum (Mo) key for nitrogen metabolism and legume nodule formation
  • Zinc (Zn) necessary for enzyme production and auxin synthesis
  • Nickel (Ni) cofactor for urease enzyme and nitrogen metabolism
• Non-mineral essential nutrients obtained from air and water
  • Carbon (C) primary component of organic compounds and cell walls
  • Hydrogen (H) component of water and organic compounds pH regulation
  • Oxygen (O) vital for cellular respiration and organic compound formation

Roles of nutrients in plants

• Nitrogen (N) drives protein synthesis chlorophyll production leaf growth
• Phosphorus (P) facilitates energy transfer (ATP) root development fruit formation
• Potassium (K) activates enzymes regulates stomata translocates photosynthates
• Calcium (Ca) forms cell walls stabilizes membranes promotes root growth
• Magnesium (Mg) central atom in chlorophyll acts as enzyme cofactor metabolizes phosphate
• Sulfur (S) synthesizes amino acids forms chlorophyll produces oils and flavors
• Boron (B) forms cell walls develops flowers and fruit sets translocates sugars
• Chlorine (Cl) regulates osmosis assists photosynthesis enhances disease resistance
• Copper (Cu) activates enzymes aids photosynthesis and respiration synthesizes lignin
• Iron (Fe) synthesizes chlorophyll transports electrons in photosynthesis fixes nitrogen
• Manganese (Mn) splits water in photosynthesis activates enzymes elongates root cells
• Molybdenum (Mo) metabolizes nitrogen acts as enzyme cofactor forms legume nodules
• Zinc (Zn) produces and activates enzymes synthesizes auxin forms chlorophyll
• Nickel (Ni) cofactor for urease enzyme metabolizes nitrogen germinates seeds
• Carbon (C) main component of organic compounds forms cell wall structure
• Hydrogen (H) forms water and organic compounds regulates cellular pH
• Oxygen (O) enables cellular respiration forms organic compounds

Symptoms of nutrient imbalances

• Nitrogen deficiency causes chlorosis of older leaves stunts growth accelerates leaf senescence
• Phosphorus deficiency darkens leaves to green or purple stunts roots delays maturity
• Potassium deficiency leads to marginal chlorosis and necrosis in older leaves weakens stems reduces fruit quality
• Calcium deficiency distorts young leaves causes blossom-end rot (tomatoes) inhibits root development
• Magnesium deficiency results in interveinal chlorosis of older leaves causes leaf cupping or curling
• Sulfur deficiency uniformly chloroses young leaves stunts growth delays maturity
• Micronutrient deficiencies often show interveinal chlorosis or necrosis deform leaves or growing points
• Nutrient toxicities excessively accumulate in plant tissues burn or necrose leaves stunt growth damage roots

Nutrient mobility in plants

• Nutrient mobility categories influence deficiency symptoms and management strategies
  • Mobile nutrients (N P K Mg) easily redistribute within plants show deficiency in older leaves first
  • Immobile nutrients (Ca B Fe) do not easily redistribute show deficiency in younger leaves first
• Implications for nutrient management guide fertilization practices
  • Mobile nutrients applied less frequently immobile nutrients may need more frequent applications
  • Foliar applications more effective for mobile nutrients soil applications often required for immobile nutrients
  • Consider nutrient interactions balance ratios for optimal uptake
• Nutrient uptake mechanisms affect nutrient availability and absorption
  1. Mass flow moves dissolved nutrients with water flow
  2. Diffusion transports nutrients along concentration gradients
  3. Root interception directly contacts nutrients as roots grow
• Factors affecting nutrient mobility in soil and plants
  • Soil pH influences nutrient solubility and availability (iron more available in acidic soils)
  • Organic matter content enhances nutrient retention and release
  • Soil moisture affects nutrient movement and root uptake
  • Root system development determines nutrient interception and absorption capacity
• Nutrient remobilization during senescence redistributes mobile nutrients to younger tissues affects nutrient cycling in ecosystems