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
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
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
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.