PLANT NUTRIENTS

2 division of Plant nutrients

• Non mineral Nutrients

• Mineral Nutrients

Nutrients under non mineral Nutrients. Found in the air and water for photosynthesis

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

How many nutrients are there in mineral Nutrients

13

2 subdivision of mineral Nutrients

• Micronutrients

• Macronutrients

2 subdivision of macronutrients

• Primary nutrients

• Secondary nutrients

What are the nutrients under primary nutrients

• Nitrogen

• Phosphorus

• Potassium

What are the nutrients under secondary nutrients

• Calcium

• Magnesium

• Sulfur

What are the nutrients under the micronutrients

• Boron

• Chlorine

• Cupper

• Iron

• Manganese

• Molibdenum

• Zinc

What is the form of absorption in Nitrogen?

• NO3

• NH4+

Function

• Important in growth and development of vital plant tissues and cells

• Helps to hold genetic code in the plant nutrients

• Gives the plant their green color

• Presence in the protein and in purines and pyrimidines of DNA and RNA

Deficiency

• Plant chlorophyll is reduced

• Flowering, fruiting, protein and starch are reduced

Mobility

• A mobility nutrient

• Deficiency appears in older leaves first

Nitrogen

Function

• Regulation of protein synthesis

• increase stalk and strengthen stem

• Increase Flowering and seed

• Inc

• rease resistance to plant disease

• Stimulate root development

• Increased N fixing capacity of legumes

Deficiency

• Plants are stunted and older leaves often dark dull green in color

• Stems and leafstalks may turn purple

• Delayed plant maturity

• Plant dwarfed or stunted

Toxicity

• Excess can interfere with the availability of copper and zinc

Mobility

• Mobile. Deficiency occurs in older leaves

Phosphorus

Atomic number of phosphorus?

15

What are the 2 major forms of phosphorus

• White phosphorus

• Red phosphorus

This is a phosphorus that is highly toxic and reactive

White phosphorus

This is a phosphorus that is less toxic and reactive

Red phosphorus

Function

• Control the closing and opening of stomata

• Facilitates protein and starch synthesis in plants

• Plays a role in osmoregulation of water and other salts in plant tissues and cells

Deficiency

• Chlorosis may cause yellowing of leaves lead to shedding and defoliation

• Stunted growth leads to slow growth or poorly developed roots and stems

Toxicity

• Leaf tip and marginal necrosis

Potassium

Function

• Calcium pectate holds the cell wall of plants together

• Stimulate ammonium absorption

• For guard cell physiology, specially in stomata closure

• Activates enzyme to send signals for cellular activity

Deficiency

• Young leaves and fruit display Deficiency first

• yellow brown spots surrounded by a sharp brown outline edge

Toxicity

• High calcium compete with magnesium and Potassium

Calcium

Form of absorption in calcium?

Ca2+

Function

• Chlorophyll formation

• Synthesis of amino acids and cell proteins

• Resistance to unfavorable factors

• Vitamin A and C concentration

Deficiency

• Early leaf fall

• Yellowing in leaf veins and reddish brown tints

Toxicity

• Rare

Magnesium

Form of absorption of magnesium

Mg2+

• Absorb in a form of sulphate

• Immobile

Function

• Chlorophyll formation

• Production of proteins

• Synthesis of oils in oilseeds

• Activation of enzyme

Deficiency

• Yellowing of entire leaf, veins, usually starts in younger leaves

• Leaf tips may yellow and curl downward

Toxicity

• Reduce leaf size

• Stunted growth

• Leaves yellowing or scorched at edges

Sulfur

Deficiency

• Limited budding

• Bud break

• Distorted shoot growth

• Short internode increased branching

Toxicity

• Chlorotic leaf tip

• Leaf necrosis

• Leaf falling

• Plant death

Boron

Function

• Plant growth and development

• Disease resistance and tolerance

• Opening and closing of stomata

• Cat ion balance and transport within the cell

Deficiency

• Occurs when medium is less than 2ppm

• Plant wilting

• Chlorotic blotches and necrotic spots

Toxicity

• Premature yellow in leaves

• Marginal or tip necrosis in older leaves

Chlorine

Medium

• 0.05 to 0.5 ppm

Functions

• Enzyme activation which are involved in lignin synthesis and several enzyme system

• Required for photosynthesis, respiration, plant metabolisms of carbohydrate and proteins

• Gives flavors and color in plant

Deficiencies

• Chlorosis of whole leaf or between veins of newer leaves

• Leaves may become small in size of wilt

• Small necrotic spots on leaf margin

Toxicity

• Excess can rsstrict growth by burning root tips

• Compete uptake with Fe and sometimes Molibdenum and Zinc

• Reduce branching and eventually plant die

Cupper

• Availability of this nutrient depends on the pH of the growing medium

Functions

• Essential for chloroplast formation

• Components of cytochrome

• Essential for nitrogen fixation

• Assist in nitrate and sulphate reduction

Deficiency

• Interveinal chlorosis of the new leaves

• Chlorosis develops when soil pH is high

Toxicity

• Excessive application or low growing medium pH

Iron

• Second greatest quantity required compare to iron

Function

• Chlorophyll synthesis

• Pollen germination, pollen tube growth

• Resistance to root pathogen

Deficiency

• Similar Iron Chlorosis

• Spots of chlorotis between the veins

Toxicity

• Media below 5.5

• burning tips and margin of older leaves as reddish brown sports across older leaves

Manganese

• Need in smallest quantities

• Range: 0.3 to 1.5 ppm

Function

• Need to symbiotic Nitrogen fixing bacteria in legumes to fix atmosphere nitrogen

Deficiency

• Mobile: Deficiency in older and middle leaves

• Whole leaf turns pale

Molibdenum

Functions

• Helpt to Produce chlorophyll

• Constituent of certain enzymes

Deficiency

• Growth suppressio

• Reduced internode length, rosetting

Toxicity

• Leaf chlorosis

Zinc absorption is in the form of?

Zn2+