Nutrient Role and Deficiency symptoms

NITROGEN

Role in plants
Essential component of amino acids, proteins and enzymes
Structural component of ATP, DNA and Chlorophyll
Absorbed as nitrate and ammonium ions
Promotes rapid vegetative growth and development
Highly mobile; symptoms 1st on older leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Stunted growth and thin spindly stems
Erect leaves and reduced branching
A ‘three tone’ appearance of leaves:
Older leaves —-> pale yellow
Middle leaves —-> yellow
Young leaves —-> pale green

Phosphorous

Importance in plants
Essential for health and vigor
Stimulates root development and production
Increases seed oil content as well as protein content
Improves crop quality and increases disease resistance
Highly mobile; symptoms 1st on older leaves
Deficiency symptoms
More difficult to diagnose than N and K deficiencies
General stunting of plants
Characteristic ‘purplish coloration’ of stems
Leaves turn dark bluish green in color

Potassium

Significance in Plants
Essential for health and vigor
Not a structural component but has ‘regulatory’ role
Activates over 60 enzymes in plants
Maintains ‘turgor’(Regulates stomatal opening and closing)
Increases crop yield and improves quality
Increases protein and cellulose content
Reduces ‘lodging’ and retards diseases
Mobile; symptoms 1st on older leaves
Deficiency symptoms
‘Marginal scorching’ of leaf tips and edges
Weak stalks and plants lodge easily
Seed and fruit become shriveled
Reduced resistance to diseases

Magnesium

Importance in plants
Chlorophyll formation
Synthesis of amino acids and proteins
Starch and sugar production
Enhances fruit color and seed formation
Key role in P- transport
Mobile; symptoms 1st on older leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Interveinal chlorosis of leaves
Stunted growth of plant
Thin brittle leaves; upward curling of margins
Small and woody fruits

Sulphur

Significance in Plants
Production of amino acids
Photosynthetic process
Increases percentage of oil in seed
Reduces lodging and retards diseases
Activator of enzymes and also acts as co-enzyme
Mobile; symptoms 1st on older leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Stunted plants
Small pale green and yellowish leaves
Lighter colored veins
Reduced protein levels

Calcium

Significance in Plants
Structural component of cell wall (Calcium pectates- constituent of middle lamella-binding agents)
Acts as secondary messenger
Regulates protein pumps
Plant’s first line of defense
Big impact on quality and shelf-life
Immobile; symptoms 1st on younger leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Stunted growth
Necrotic leaf margins on young leaves
Curling of leaves
Death of terminal buds and root tips

Iron

Role in plants
Chlorophyll development and function
Role in energy transfer within the plant
Constituent of certain enzymes and proteins
Functions in plant respiration and plant metabolism
Involved in nitrogen fixation
Less mobile: symptoms 1st on younger leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Strongly associated with calcareous soils and anaerobic conditions
Interveinal chlorosis of younger leaves first
Later all leaves exhibit complete chlorosis
Leaves turn bleached
Finally necrotic spots appear

Zinc

Significance
Carbohydrate metabolism
Co-factor in several enzymatic pathways
Auxin metabolism (Synthesis of tryptophan, a precursor for auxins)
Immobile in plants; symptoms 1st on younger leaves
pH of soil and availability of Zinc are inversely related
Deficiency symptoms
Small, rosetted plants
Small, distorted leaves
Shorter shoots
Interveinal chlorosis of young leaves

Manganese

Importance in plants
Involved in enzyme activity for
  • Photosynthesis
  • Respiration
  • Nitrogen metabolism
Involved with certain phosphate transferring enzymes.
Less mobile; symptoms 1st on younger leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Characteristic ‘Interveinal chlorosis’ of leaves
Brown necrotic spots resulting in premature leaf drop
White/ gray spots on leaves of some cereal crops
Delayed maturity in some species

Copper

Role in plants
Essential participant in photosynthesis and respiration
Constituent of proteins and enzymes like
  • Cytochrome oxidase
  • Plastocyanin
  • Super oxide dismutase
Role in cell wall composition and its formation
Less mobile; symptoms 1st on younger leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Characteristic ‘die-back’ in trees
Stunted growth
Distorted leaves
Necrosis of apical meristem

Boron

Importance in plants
Essential participant in photosynthesis and respiration
Constituent of proteins and enzymes like
Role in cell wall composition and its formation
Less mobile; symptoms 1st on younger leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Involved in cell wall formation and membrane integrity
Functional role in flowering, pollen germination and fruiting
Aids in translocation of sugars
Important for cell division, hormone movement and water relationships
Immobile; symptoms 1st on younger leaves

Molybdenum

Role in plants
Essential in protein synthesis and growth process
Involved in enzyme systems associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation
Role in nitrogen and sulphur metabolism
Important requisite for pollen formation
Less mobile; symptoms 1st on younger leaves
Deficiency symptoms
Low molybdenum levels lead to nitrogen deficiency
Characteristic irregular leaf blade formation known as “whiptail”
Pale green leaves and stunted growth
Interveinal mottling and marginal chlorosis of older leaves
Incomplete grain and fruit development

prominent name in plant nutrients segment

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