-: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.

2. 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.

3. 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 .

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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’.

8. 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.

9. CHLORINE
 Symbol – Cl
 Nutrient functions
 Chlorine is essential in photosynthesis, where it is involved in the evolution of oxygen.
 It increases cell osmotic pressure.
 Deficiency symptoms
 Chlorosis of younger leaves and wilting of the plant.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.