Like animals, plants cannot whip up a well-balanced meal. Plants obtain nutrients by two sources: air and water (which provides carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) and soil (which provides the remaining essential nutrients). These nutrients are important for plant growth, development, and reproduction.
Breakdown of Nutrients work in plants:
Nitrogen (N):
- Major nutrient for building blocks of protein, enzyme, and chlorophyll.
- Helps in growing leaves and stems, and giving them a lush green appearance.
- Deficiency in nitrogen can cause stunted growth and yellowing leaves.
Phosphorus (P):
- Crucial for energy transfer in plants and is a component of cell membranes, DNA, and RNA.
- essential for root development, seed formation, and flower production.
- Deficiency in phosphorus can lead to stunted growth, poor flowering, and purplish leaves.
Potassium (K):
- Regulates water balance, activating enzymes, and promoting overall plant health.
- Helps plants resist diseases and pests and improves fruit quality.
- Deficiency can cause weak stems, wilting, and leaf scorching.
Calcium (Ca):
- Helps in root development, Strengthens cell walls, and is involved in various plant signaling processes.
- It also helps regulate nutrient uptake and protects plants from stress.
- A lack of calcium can cause stunted growth, weak stems, and blossom-end rot in fruits.
Magnesium (Mg):
- Central element in chlorophyll, and it is essential for photosynthesis.
- Magnesium also activates enzymes involved in various plant metabolic processes.
- Magnesium deficiency can cause yellowing between leaf veins, wilting, and leaf drop.
Sulfur (S):
- Plays a role in protein structure and enzyme function.
- It is also a component of some amino acids and vitamins essential for plants.
- Sulfur deficiency can cause stunted growth, pale leaves, and reduced flower and seed production.
Iron (Fe):
- It is the key component of chlorophyll, the molecule responsible for capturing sunlight in photosynthesis.
- It also plays a role in respiration and enzyme function.
- Yellowing of the leaf tissue between the veins while the veins themselves remain green.
Manganese (Mn):
- Activates several enzymes required for photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen metabolism.
- leaves turn yellow while the veins themselves remain green. This gives the leaves a net-like appearance.
Zinc (Zn):
- Involved in many plant functions, including seed formation, stem growth, and disease resistance. It is also essential for chlorophyll production.
- It causes the leaves to turn yellow between the veins, while the veins themselves remain green. This yellowing is often seen on the younger leaves first.
Copper (Cu):
- It is a component of several enzymes involved in photosynthesis, respiration, and cell wall formation.
- show itself in a number of ways, primarily affecting younger tissues.
- Discoloration
- Stunted growth
- Deformed leaves
- Flowering problems
Boron (B):
- Important for cell wall formation, seed development, and hormone movement within the plant.
- Boron deficiency disrupts several plant functions as Boron is involved in cell wall formation, sugar transport, and hormone production.
Molybdenum (Mo):
- It is a component of the nitrogenase enzyme, which is essential for nitrogen fixation in legumes.
- molybdenum is essential for nitrate metabolism.
- Reduced flowering and fruiting, Leaf curling and distortion, Interveinal chlorosis
Chlorine (Cl):
- Helps maintain the proper balance of ions and water in plant cells. It is also involved in photosynthesis.
- less common than deficiencies of other major nutrients
- Discoloration, Wilting, Stunted growth
