23 Nutrients Essential for Plant Growth

MACRO Thrid : Derived from air and water

Macro - Primary

Nitrogen [N]

Nitrogen is so vital because it is a major component of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide (i.e., photosynthesis). It is also a major component of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Without proteins, plants wither and die.

Phosphorus [P]

The function of phosphorus in plants is very important. It helps a plant convert other nutrients into usable building blocks with which to grow. Phosphorus is one of the main three nutrients.

Potassium [K]

Potassium is an essential plant nutrient and is required in large amounts for proper growth and reproduction of plants. Potassium is considered second only to nitrogen, when it comes to nutrients needed by plants, and is commonly considered as the “quality nutrient”.

Macro - Secondary

Calcium [Ca]

Calcium, in the form of calcium pectate, is responsible for holding together the cell walls of plants. When calcium is deficient, new tissue such as root tips, young leaves, and shoot tips often exhibit distorted growth from improper cell wall formation

Magnesium [Mg]

Magnesium is an essential plant nutrient. It has a wide range of key roles in many plant functions. One of the magnesium's well-known roles is in the photosynthesis process, as it is a building block of the Chlorophyll, which makes leaves appear green

Sulphur [S]

In plants, sulphur is essential for nitrogen-fixing nodules on legumes, and necessary in the formation of chlorophyll. Plants use sulphur in the processes of producing proteins, amino acids, enzymes and vitamins. Sulphur also helps the plant's resistance to disease, aids in growth, and in seed formation

Macro - Thrid : Derived from air and water

Carbon [C]

Carbon releases nutrients for plant growth, promotes the structure, biological and physical health of soil, and is a buffer against harmful substances. Soil organic carbon is part of the natural carbon cycle, and the world's soils holds around twice the amount of carbon that is found in the atmosphere and in vegetation.

Hydrogen [H]

Along with carbon and oxygen, hydrogen is one of the main non-mineral nutrients that is vital to plant growth and development. Hydrogen additionally plays an important part during the photosynthesis process by binding with carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce all the essential sugars a plant needs to grow.

Oxygen [O]

Plants do need oxygen to survive. They respire (take in oxygen, give off carbon dioxide) the same way that animals do. The difference is that during the day, plants also perform photosynthesis, in which they take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

Micro - Nutrients

Iron [Fe]

Iron is involved in the production of chlorophyll and iron chlorosis is easily recognised on iron sensitive crops growing on calcareous soils. Iron also is a component of many enzymes associated with energy transfer, nitrogen reduction and fixation, and lignin formation. Iron is associated with sulphur in plants to form compounds that catalyse other reactions. Iron deficiencies are mainly manifested by yellow leaves due to low levels of chlorophyll. Leaf yellowing first appears on the younger upper leaves in interveinal tissues. Severe iron deficiencies cause leaves to turn completely yellow or almost white, and then brown as leaves die. Iron deficiencies are found mainly on high pH soils, although some acid, sandy soils low in organic matter also may be iron deficient. Cool, wet weather enhances deficiencies, especially on soils with marginal levels of iron available. Poorly aerated or hard pan soils also reduce iron uptake by plants. Uptake of iron decreases with increased soil pH, and is adversely affected by high levels of available phosphorous, manganese, and zinc soils.

Zinc [Zn]

Zinc is an essential component of various enzyme systems for energy production, protein synthesis, and growth regulation. Zinc deficient plants also exhibit delayed maturity. Zinc is not mobile in plants so Zinc deficiency symptoms occur mainly in new growth. Poor mobility in plants suggests the need for a constant supply of available Zinc for optimum growth. The most visible Zinc deficiency symptoms are shot internodes and a decrease in leaf size.

Boron [B]

Boron’s primary function is related to cell wall formation, so boron-deficient plants may be stunted. Sugar transport in plants, flower retention and pollen formation and germination also are affected by boron. Seed and grain production are reduced with low boron supply. Boron deficiency symptoms first appear at the growing points resulting in a stunted appearance (rosetting), barren ears due to poor pollination, hollow stems and fruit (hollow heart) and brittle, discoloured leaves and loss of fruiting bodies. Boron deficiencies are found mainly in acidic, sandy soils in regions of high rainfall, and those with low soil organic matter. Borate ions are mobile in soil and can be leached from the root zone. Boron deficiencies are more pronounced during drought periods when root activity is restricted.

Molybdenum [Mo]

Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency occurs when plant growth is limited because the plant cannot take up sufficient quantities of this essential micronutrient from its growing medium. It is found in soils that are alkaline with high pH levels that convert nitrate into nitrite (a toxic form of nitrogen) and then into ammonia before it is used to synthesize amino acids within the plant. It also needed by symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria in legumes to fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Copper [Cu]

Copper is necessary for Carbohydrate and Nitrogen metabolism - inadequate copper results in stunting of plants. Copper is also required for lignin synthesis, which is needed for cell wall strength and prevention of wilting. Deficiency symptoms of copper are dieback of stems and twigs, yellowing of leaves, stunted growth and pale green leaves that wither easier.

Manganese [Mn]

Manganese is necessary in photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and to form other compounds required for plant metabolism. Interveinal chlorosis is a characteristic of manganese deficiency. In very severe manganese-deficient cases; brown necrotic spots appear on leaves, resulting in premature leaf drop. Delayed maturity is another symptom of deficiency in some species and white/grey spots on leaves of some cereal crops is also a sign.

Nickel [Ni]

Nickel is a component of some plant enzymes, most notably urease, which metabolizes urea nitrogen into useable ammonia within the plant. Without nickel, toxic levels of urea can accumulate within the tissue forming necrotic legions on the leaf tips.

Cobalt [Co]

Cobalt is classified as an essential micronutrient and plays a critical role in the overall growth process of plants. Cobalt is necessary for the processes of stem growth, elongating the coleoptiles, and expanding leaf discs. It is a critical element needed for a plant to reach maturity and for healthy bud development.

Vanadium [V]

Vanadium stimulates pepper and other plant growth and flowering, increases concentrations of amino acids, sugars and chlorophylls, and modifies nutrient concentrations. It is a beneficial element with the potential to be used in biostimulation approaches of crops.

Boron [B]

Boron plays an important role in regulating plants' hormone levels and promoting proper growth. Boron increases flower production and retention, pollen tube elongation and germination, and seed and fruit development

Silicon [Si]

Silicon seems to benefit certain plants when they are under stress. It has been found to improve drought tolerance and delay wilting in certain crops where irrigation is withheld and may enhance the plant's ability to resist micronutrient and other metal toxicities (i.e. aluminum, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, etc.). Silicon has the potential to be used in the production of floriculture crops to increase flower and stem size, and accelerate flowering.

Sodium [Na]

Sodium is not an essential element for plants but can be used in small quantities, similar to micronutrients, to aid in metabolism and synthesis of chlorophyll. A few varieties of plants need sodium to help concentrate carbon dioxide, but most plants use only a trace amount to promote metabolism. It is found in many minerals and is released when they break down over time.

Aluminium [Al]

Aluminum Promotes Nutrient Uptake. In different plant species, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) uptake has been considered the mechanism responsible for the stimulation of root growth induced by aluminum.

Selenium [Se]

Selenium has been shown to exert a positive effect on crop growth and stress tolerance at low concentrations. There is a wealth of evidence that low concentrations of Se enhance the growth of plants and improve antioxidative capacity of plants either by acting as antioxidant directly or by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and bring out the tolerance under stressful condition. In contrast at high concentrations, Se acts as a pro-oxidant and leads to drastic reduction in yield.

Chlorine [Cl]

Chlorine is important for plant photosynthesis as it is involved in the opening and closing of stomata (pores in leaves that enable plants to take in and release carbon dioxide, oxygen and other gases as required). It also helps ensure leaves are firm, but necessary only in minute quantities. In excessive amounts it could have a negative impact on the good soil bacteria that benefit plants. Excessive chlorine can also directly injure plant roots