Nutrient Role and Deficiency Symptoms
Nutrient Role and Deficiency symptoms
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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
|
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
|
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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