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