Nutrients Plants Need

By Poshali Ganguly

Every living thing needs nutrients fir its survival and so does plants. These nutrients facilitate the life cycle of the plant and its growth. There are 16 such nutrients, which the plant might need and out of these sixteen, nine are essential and the other seven are required by the plants but in the absence of the remaining seven the plant would not die. The nutrients can be further classified into the following:

• Primary Nutrients
• Secondary Nutrients
• Micronutrients

Essential Plant Nutrients: Description and Significance

The Primary Nutrients consist of Carbon (C), Oxygen (O) and Hydrogen (H) along with Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). The latter three are commonly found in most of the fertilizers and the former are found in air and water from the atmosphere. These nutrients are required and are utilized more than the secondary and the primary nutrients. Carbon is required in photosynthesis and are important constituents of biomolecules like cellulose and starch. Oxygen is elemental for cellular respiration, which generates energy for the plant called ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate). Hydrogen is also essential since it helps in the generation of sugars and thus contributes in the growth of the plant. Nitrogen is part of the DNA of the plant and is major contributor towards the growth of the plant. Phosphorus is an important part of ATP and has a role to play in the conversion of light energy into chemical energy during Photosynthesis. Potassium plays an important part in water retention by the plant; it also regulates the opening and closing of stoma.

The Secondary Nutrients consist of Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S) and Calcium (Ca) which though are required in smaller amounts are required by the plant for various reasons. Magnesium is a part of Chlorophyll pigment without which Photosynthesis would not be possible and the plant would fail to prepare food and energy. Sulfur is required for the generation of energy in the plant body. Calcium is helpful in the transportation of nutrients in the plant body.

Then comes the Micronutrients like Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe) and Molybdenum (Mo). These nutrients are required in very small quantities as the name suggests. Zinc has a huge role to play in the stimulation and activation of enzymes; therefore it is required though in a small amount for the proper functioning of the plant. Copper is also important for Photosynthesis and it also a part of various enzymes. Boron is an important component of the cell walls. Beside sit also helps in the transportation of sugar and cell division. Manganese helps in the building of Chloroplasts and it also activates enzymes. Iron also helps in photosynthesis and enzyme reaction. It also helps in the synthesis of chlorophyll. Molybdenum plays an important role in the fixation of Nitrogen and also is important element when it comes to the generation of amino acids.

Sources of Essential Plant Nutrients

There are various sources of plant nutrients some natural and some synthetic. The natural sources have to be necessarily air, water and soil but the synthetic sources are fertilizers and manures. There are certain fertilizers, which supply certain nutrients for example calcium and magnesium can be found in Dolomitic Lime or Aglime. Similarly sulfur can be obtained from Sulfur compounds, Gypsum and Magnesium and Potassium Sulfate. Micronutrients like manganese, copper, boron, zinc and molybdenum are available from manganese, copper and zinc sulfates, their oxides, oxy sulfates and in chelates. These nutrients can also be obtained from ammonium molybdate and boric acid.

What can be the Effects of Plant Nutrition Deficiencies?

The deficiencies of various nutrients leads to a various problems, which are as follows:

• Calcium deficiency would lead to a decrease in the growth level of the plants.
• Deficiency of Nitrogen would lead to stunted growth of the plants and also weaken the plant as a result of which it might also not flower.
• Deficiency of Phosphorus would lead to fading of leaves and slow plant development.
• Deficiency of Potassium would lead to the yellowing of leaves and premature withering.
• Iron Deficiency leads to development of white patches in between veins and that leads to the death of young leaves.
• Sulfur deficiency leads to the yellowing of leaves and weakening of plants, the effects are very similar to that of Nitrogen deficiency.
• Boron deficiency leads to deformation and death of leaves along with the death of growing buds.
• Manganese Deficiency leads to the yellowing of leaf veins.
• Magnesium Deficiency leads to the yellowing of leaves and poor development of the plant and the fruits.
• Zinc Deficiency can lead to the yellowing of leaves and a reduction in the size of the leaf.

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The Right Shrub For The Job

A professional garden designer chooses landscape shrubs and bushes in a certain way, while an inexperienced home gardener chooses them in another. The novice tends to go for plants that he or she has seen and liked in parks, gardens, and nurseries. The landscape architect or garden designer on the other hand, while taking personal preference into account, works according to a set of principles, which unlike other aspects of design, can be readily applied by the average home gardener.

To think like a professional, do not at first have specific plants in mind, but rather distinguish between the various design functions that shrubs perform in the garden, and then choose those species that fit the design criteria you have established. It’s like a manager choosing from a list of candidates, the person or persons for a certain job in the company. Certainly, subjective factors play their part, but primarily, the hirer will be looking at the objective credentials of the candidates, such as qualifications and work experience. Here then are some of the “qualifications” that your “candidates”, i.e. your shrubs, should possess before including them in the garden.




Sheared Hedges

The role of a neatly trimmed, sheared hedge is to act either as a formal screen or as a background to some showy focal point. Not every shrub is suitable for the purpose. As a relatively formal garden element, the plant’s foliage should be neat, small, and of fine texture. Plants with large leaves and course texture, like Hibiscus for example look poor and ragged after the hedge trimmer has been at them. That is why “unspectacular” bushes such as Pistacia lentiscus or Myrtus communis make excellent trimmed hedges.

It is tempting to choose species that grow quickly, but this is not necessarily wise in the long run, as rampant plants, like Elaeagnus pungens, are more difficult to maintain on a regular basis. Undoubtedly, that is the reason why the “boring” Privet plants (Ligustrum sp.) are often the choice of the landscape professional.

Informal Screens

Shrubs that are grown as loose, informal screens are usually more suited to larger spaces as opposed to small backyard gardens. The plants can be larger, faster in growth, and have courser leaf texture, than those designated as trimmed hedges. As screens, they ought to be evergreen, and to recover well from pruning. Examples include species of Viburnum, Myoporum, Cocculus. Conifers, such as the large varieties of Juniper, are especially suitable, as they generally do not require pruning

Flowering Shrubs

A landscape bush that acts as a screen can also double up as a flowering shrub. It is worth distinguishing here between those such as Plumbago, that bloom almost continuously through the growing season, and others, like Grevillea and Callistemon, that have a brief, seasonal, flowering period. Strangely, the continual flowerers often produce negative reactions amongst homeowners, perhaps according to the principle that familiarity breeds contempt! They are best used in the farther reaches of large gardens, and perhaps avoided in small spaces. With regard to color, shrubs that sport decorative fruit should not be overlooked.

Sculptural and Emphasis Plants

I addition to screening and background functions; a number of shrubs are highly decorative as individual specimens, creating either a clear focal point or a subtle emphasis amongst a mass of “regular” plants. Yucca and Plumeria for instance, have definite sculptural qualities, while the colored foliage of purple-leaved plants creates a striking contrast. The key with such “special” plants is to use them as sparingly and carefully as possible. Nothing shows up the amateur more, than the sight of plants with purple, silver, or variegated leaves, dotted throughout the garden.   Source: http://www.greenthumbarticles.com/author/Jonathan-Yaakobi-a70.html

More info on shrub care.