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-:Plant Nutrition & Deficiency Symptoms:-

  • Plants require 16 essential elements. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are derived from atmosphere and soil water.
  • Remaining 13 essential elements like   N ,P ,K ,Ca ,Mg ,S ,Fe ,Zn ,Mn ,Cu ,B ,Mo and Cl etc  are supplied either from soil minerals and soil organic matter.
  • The functions of essential nutrients and their deficiency symptoms are described below,

1.NITROGEN 

  • Symbol– N ,available to plants as nitrate (NO3-), and ammonium (NH4+)ions.
  • Nutrient functions
  • Nitrogen is biologically combined with C,H, O and S to create amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
  • N is a major part of the chlorophyll molecule and is necessary for photosynthesis.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Stunted growth may occur because of reduction in cell division.
  • Chlorosis caused by the translocation if nitrogen from the older to younger tissues.

 

  1. PHOSPHORUS
  • Symbol– P
  • Nutrient functions
  • In photosynthesis and respiration, phosphorus plays a major role in energy storage and transfer as ATP, ADP, NAD and NADP.
  • P is part of the RNA and DNA structures, which are the major components of genetic materials.
  • P aids in root development, flower initiation, seed and fruit development.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Under severe deficiency, purpling of leaves and stems may appear.
  • Delayed maturity, poor seed and fruit development.

 

 

  1. POTASSIUM
  • Symbol– K
  • Nutrient functions
  • K is known to be an enzyme activator that promotes metabolism.
  • K promotes translocation of sugars for plant growth or storage in fruits or roots.
  • K improves disease resistance in plants.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • The most common symptom is chlorosis.
  • In some crops, stems are weak and lodging is common .

 

  1. CALCIUM
  • Symbol– Ca 
  • Nutrient functions
  • Ca has a major role in the formation of cell membrane and it’s plasticity, affecting normal cell division by maintaining cell integrity and membrane permeability.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Growing tips of roots and leaves turn brown and die.
  • In some crops, younger leaves may be necrotic.

 

 

  1. MAGNESIUM
  • Symbol– Mg
  • Nutrient functions
  • Mg is a co- factor in several enzymatic reactions.
  • Mg is a major constituent of the chlorophyll molecule.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • The deficiency symptom of interveinal chlorosis first appears in older leaves.
  • Scanty pith formation.

 

  1. SULFUR
  • Symbol– S
  • Nutrient functions
  • S is essential in forming plant proteins.
  • S aids in seed production, nodule formation in legumes.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Younger leaves are chlorotic with evenly, lightly coloured veins.
  • Rapid leaf fall takes place.

 

  1. BORON
  • Symbol
  • B, available to plants as borate.
  • Nutrient functions:-
  • B has been shown to promote root growth.
  • B is essential for pollen germination.
  • Deficiency symptoms:-
  • B deficiency causes stunted growth of leaves.
  • Tomato: ‘drought spot’.

 

  1. COPPER
  • Symbol– Cu
  • Nutrient functions
  • Cu is essential in several plant enzyme systems involved in photosynthesis and respiration.
  • Cu has an indirect effect on nodule formation.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Reduced growth, distortion of younger leaves and necrosis of apical meristem.
  • In trees, multiple sprouts occurs at growing points.

 

  1. CHLORINE
  • Symbol– Cl
  • Nutrientfunctions
  • Chlorine is essential in photosynthesis, where it is involved in the evolution of oxygen.
  • It increases cell osmotic pressure.
  • Deficiencysymptoms
  • Chlorosis of younger leaves and wilting of the plant.

 

  1. IRON
  • Symbol– Fe
  • Nutrient functions
  • It has been strongly associated with protein metabolism.
  • It is essential in the synthesis and maintenance of chlorophyll in plants.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Interveinal chlorosis in younger leaves.

 

  1. MANGANESE
  • Symbol– Mn
  • Nutrient functions
  • Mn is involved in the oxidation reduction process in photosynthesis.
  • Mn is predominant metal ion of Krebs cycle reactions.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Symptoms first appear as chlorosis in younger tissues.
  • In monocots, greenish- grey specks appear at the lower base of younger leaves.

 

 

  1. ZINC
  • Symbol– Zn
  • Nutrient functions
  • Zn is required in the synthesis of tryptophan, which in turn is necessary for the formation of indole-3- acetic acid (an auxin ) in plants.
  • Zn induces de novo synthesis of cytochrome.
  • Deficiency symptoms
  • Interveinal chlorosis occurs in younger leaves.
  • The internodes shorten to give a rosette form.