These elements are vital for their overall development and without them plants simply can’t thrive. Let’s explore the essential elements and their functions, categorized into macronutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients, based on their consumption levels in plants.
Know your nutrients
Understand
your Nutrients
Plants need all 14 essential elements to grow and survive.
Plants rely on various nutritional elements obtained mainly from the soil. Among them, the essential elements are vital for proper growth. Insufficient levels of these elements result in poor plant development, while their absence can lead to plant death.
While the soil naturally contains these nutrients, the demand for nutrients in agriculture and gardening often exceeds the soil’s natural supply. To address this, fertilizers and soil conditioners must be applied to ensure an adequate nutrient balance in the soil.
Contrary to the misconception that only macronutrients are necessary, it is crucial to provide all essential elements, including micronutrients.
Each leaf, flower, or fruit harvested from plants depletes the soil’s essential elements to varying degrees. Neglecting to replenish these nutrients leads to soil
erosion, rendering it sterile and unsuitable for cultivation or gardening.
erosion, rendering it sterile and unsuitable for cultivation or gardening.
A shortage of micronutrients can significantly impact plant development and survival, regardless of the abundance of macronutrients.
Moreover, excessive fertilizer usage does not always result in higher production. For example, an excess of nitrogen can make plants more vulnerable to pests and diseases, ultimately leading to reduced yields.
Balancing nutrient supply is key to promoting healthy plant growth and maximizing agricultural or gardening productivity.
At Diatomega, we offer a comprehensive solution – Mineral4All The Premium Mineral Complex that combines synergistic natural minerals, providing all the essential macro and micronutrients in a highly assimilable form. Our product unlocks the power of balanced plant nutrition, supporting vigorous growth, abundant yields, and overall plant vitality. Experience the difference with Mineral4All and unlock the full potential of your plants.
The essential elements consist of 14 nutrients (beside carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) and are categorized as follows based on plant consumption levels. The macro nutrients are the ones consumed in the greatest quantity, the secondary nutrients in an intermediate quantity and the micronutrients consumed in low quantities.
Macronutrients: Nitrogen,
Ootassium, and
Phosphorus.
Secondary nutrients:
Calcium, Magnesium,
and Sulfur.
Micronutrients: Iron, Boron,
Manganese, Zinc, Copper, and
Molybdenum.
Macronutrients
Nitrogen Functions:
Key role in promoting vegetative development.
Stimulates stem growth and foliage expansion.
Contributes to fruit and grain formation.
Nitrogen Deficiency Symptoms:
Chlorosis in lower leaves, extending to the whole plant, and premature leaf drop in severe deficiency.
Stunted stem growth.
Early senescence of mature leaves
Phosphorus Functions:
Participates in photosynthesis.
Promotes root development, flowering, and seed germination.
Essential for plant metabolism and energy transport.
Crucial component of DNA and RNA, influencing genetic inheritance.
Phosphorus Deficiency Symptoms:
Photosynthesis is not carried out properly.
The synthesis of cellulose and starch is reduced.
Deficit in protein production.
Reduction in cell expansion.
Potassium Functions:
Enhances fruit flavor, size, quantity, and quality.
Facilitates stomatal opening and closing and osmotic regulation.
Plays a vital role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
Potassium Deficiency Symptoms:
Stagnation in plant development.
Weak stems and short internodes.
Fruits with less flavor since acids and sugars decrease and deterioration increases.
Secondary
Nutrients
Calcium Functions:
Essential for cell wall structure and strength.
Promotes root formation and nutrient absorption.
Protects against fungal attacks on the cell wall.
Particularly beneficial when presented as Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).
Calcium Deficiency Symptoms:
It prevents plant development due to incomplete cell division.
It affects the roots and new leaves, generating malformations.
Magnesium Functions:
Crucial for chlorophyll formation and function.
Promotes protein synthesis and aids in phosphorus metabolism.
Beneficial in the form of magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).
Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms:
Chlorosis in the leaves, reaching the entire plant in acute deficiencies.
Reduction in leaf size and poor sprout growth.
Sulfur Functions:
Essential for protein and vitamin synthesis in plants.
Component of various enzymes.
Offers protection against different types of mites.
Sulfur Deficiency Symptoms:
Protein synthesis is inhibited.
Decreases stem height.
Poor quality flowers and premature wilting.
When it comes to plant nutrition, it is crucial to understand that micronutrients are just as vital as macronutrients and secondary elements. These micronutrients are indispensable for the plant’s survival, and their absence would result in plant death. The only distinction lies in the quantity required by plants to achieve their full development.
While an average soil may contain some micronutrients, it’s important to note that plants extract these nutrients from the soil. If not replenished, the depletion and erosion of soils occur, rendering them infertile. Hence, fertilization becomes necessary to provide these essential micronutrients. For micronutrients, foliar application is a feasible method since they are required in small quantities. However, it is crucial to emphasize that while foliar feeding can provide some nourishment, the most effective way is through the roots, as they are specialized for nutrient absorption.
LET’S EXPLORE SOME ESSENTIAL
MICRONUTRIENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS:
Iron Functions:
Promotes the development of chloroplasts, chlorophyll, and ferredoxin.
Plays a crucial role in photosynthesis and energy transport.
Essential for root growth and development.
Iron Deficiency Symptoms:
It slows down the growth of the plant and stops its flowering almost completely.
Reduced interveinal chlorosis.
Symptoms generally appear on the youngest leaves.
Crops sensitive to a lack of Iron:
Onions, beans, sorghum, citrus fruits, soybeans, corn, and barley
Zinc Functions:
Regulates plant growth and promotes stem and root development.
Contributes to auxin production.
Helps plants withstand extreme heat.
Zinc Deficiency Symptoms:
Smaller and yellowish young leaves.
Delayed stem elongation.
Weakened of membrane lipids.
Crops sensitive to a lack of Zinc:
Corn, onion, soy, rice, walnut, garlic, and tomato
Copper Functions:
Promotes chlorophyll synthesis and vitamin formation in plants.
Supports photosynthesis.
Protects against fungi and harmful microorganisms.
Copper Deficiency Symptoms:
Premature wilting of young leaves.
Difficulties in water transportation.
Reduced photosynthesis and carbohydrates levels.
Crops sensitive to a lack of Copper:
Wheat, corn, onion, and citrus.
Manganese Functions:
Carbohydrates and sugars are better provided to the fruits, promoting better development and ripening.
Key element for chlorophyll generation and photosynthesis.
Facilitates the availability of calcium and phosphorus to the plant.
Acts as a structural component of ribosomes.
Manganese Deficiency Symptoms:
It first manifests itself in young leaves with different symptoms depending on the crop.
Underdevelopment and poor fruit ripening.
Crops sensitive to a lack of Manganese:
Apples, chili, sugar cane, soy, citrus fruits, and tomatoes.
Boron Functions:
Plays a vital role in pollination and sugar metabolism during reproductive development.
Promotes flowering and fruit set.
Synergizes with calcium.
Boron Deficiency Symptoms:
Root elongation and DNA synthesis are inhibited.
Leads to interveinal chlorosis in mature leaves and flower drop.
Crops sensitive to a lack of Boron:
Alfalfa, apples, grapevines, lettuce, and tomatoes
Molybdenum Functions:
Facilitates nitrogen metabolism in plants.
Essential for enzymes involved in nitrogen movement.
Molybdenum Deficiency Symptoms:
Molybdenum deficiency disrupts the nitrogen cycle, leading to various crop-specific problems.
Crops sensitive to a lack of Molybdenum:
Chili, onion, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables
Beneficial Elements for
enhanced plant performance
In addition to essential elements, there are elements that plants can absorb through their roots, although they are not considered essential for their complete development. However, these elements play a beneficial role, enhancing plant behavior in various aspects such as productivity, fruit quality, and resistance to pests and diseases.
LET'S EXPLORE THE MAIN BENEFICIAL ELEMENTS:
Silicon stands out as the ultimate beneficial element, abundant in the soil. However, most of it is not readily assimilated by plants. Therefore, providing high-quality assimilable silicon is recommended for achieving optimal harvests.
The application of high-quality assimilable silicon offers several key benefits, including:
- Reduces transpiration and water loss by improving water regulation during drought conditions.
- Helps control abiotic and biotic stress.
- Increases resistance to salinity and frost conditions.
- Shields plants from harmful ultraviolet radiation, protecting fruits against sunburn.
- Enhances plant health by boosting resistance to pests and diseases through physical and chemical mechanisms.
- Reinforces the mechanical strength of cell walls, hardening plant tissues and improving resistance to pests and diseases.
- Strengthens the plant’s self-defense system by activating the synthesis of enzymes and phytoalexins.
- Acts as a natural insecticide, physically and mechanically protecting crops.
Crops with high silicon demands include rice and various grasses.
Sodium plays a beneficial role in supporting plant physiology, particularly in the following areas:
- Facilitates the opening and closing of stomata, aiding in water regulation.
- Assists in the metabolism and synthesis of chlorophyll, especially in C4 plants.
Aluminum, when present in appropriate quantities, offers significant benefits, such as:
- Increases antioxidant activity in plants.
- Enhances potassium absorption.
- Reduces iron toxicity.
- Boosts resistance to herbivores.
