the FIRST THREE -Plant Nutrition Plants need 17 elements for normal growth. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are found in air and water. Nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and sulfur are found in the soil. These six elements are used in relatively large amounts by the plant and are called macronutrients. There are eight other elements that are used in much smaller amounts and are called micronutrients, or trace elements. The micronutrients, which are found in the soil, are iron, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, and chlorine. All 17 elements, both macronutrients and micronutrients, are essential for plant growth. Macronutrients Deficiencies Remarks Nitrogen (N) - Part of proteins, enzymes, chlorophyll, and growth regulators. Reduced growth, yellowing (chlorosis), reds and purples may intensify with some plants, reduced lateral breaks. Excess will yield all leaf and stem growth, with little fruit. Phosphorus (P) - Role in fat, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen metabolism; respiration and photosynthesis. Reduced growth, color may intensify, foliage turning brown or purple in some plants; thin stems, loss of lower leaves, reduced flowering. In very acid or alkaline soils, phosphorus will be unavailable. Potassium (K) - Important in starch formation, sugar translocation, water relations, disease resistance, chlorophyll development, and tuber formation. Reduced growth, shortened internodes, marginal burn or brown leaf edges, dead spots in the leaf, reduction of lateral breaks, and tendency to wilt readily. Large amounts of potash are needed by most plants.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 10:26:40 +0000
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