Nutrition in Plants

Plants, like all other living things, have their own unique characteristics. They require nourishment for growth and development as well.

 Plants also require 16 key elements in order to survive. Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, for example, are elements that come from the atmosphere and soil water. 

Nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, sulphur, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine are among the thirteen important elements. 

Soil minerals and organic matter, as well as organic and inorganic fertilisers, offer these components. Plants also require light, heat, and water to effectively utilise these nutrients. 

These elements must be sufficiently provided. Some of these elements, such as cultural practises and disease and pest management, are significant in crop productivity.

Mode of nutrition

Nutrition can be defined as the process of obtaining food and putting it to use in order to grow, repair any damaged bodily parts, and maintain good health. 

Plants make food by extracting basic elements from their surroundings, such as minerals, carbon dioxide, water, and sunshine, and these processes are involved in their nutrition.

 There are two types of nutrition: 

• Plants are known as primary producers since they have autotrophic feeding. Plants also use light, carbon dioxide, and water to produce their nourishment. 
• Heterotrophic – Animals and humans are included in this group since they rely on plants for food.

Plant nutrients

Some significant sources of plant nourishment are available. Using the sun’s energy, a plant transforms atmospheric CO2 into simple sugar. The stomata allow carbon dioxide (CO2) to enter the plant. 

Photosynthesis also produces oxygen (O2). It is a component of the atmosphere that passes via the stomata. In plants, oxygen is used in cellular respiration to liberate energy from the chemical bonds in sugar, allowing the plant to grow and maintain itself. 

The only reason for this is that CO2 and light energy are insufficient for a plant to synthesise all of the chemicals it requires. It has also been established that plants require a large number of inorganic nutrients. 

These substances are referred to as macronutrients. These organic nutrients are required in relatively high amounts by the plants.

Nitrogen nutrient function

For plants, nitrogen is a critical nutrient. Amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, are formed when it is biologically coupled with C, H, O, and S. 

Amino acids are used by plants to make protoplasm, which is the location for cell division and consequently plant growth and development.

 Because all of a plant’s enzymes are comprised of proteins, nitrogen is required for all enzymatic reactions. 

N is required for photosynthesis since it is a key component of the chlorophyll molecule. 

N is required for the formation of numerous vitamins in plants during photosynthesis. 

Nitrogen aids in the improvement of the plant’s dry matter quality and quantity. They can be found in green vegetables and protein-rich grains.

Phosphorus nutrients function

Photosynthesis and respiration both require phosphorus. It also aids in energy storage by transferring ADP, ATP (adenosine diphosphate and biphosphate), DPN, and TPN (adenosine triphosphate and diphosphate) (di – phosphotyrosine and tri – phosphotyrosine nucleotide).

 The major components of genetic information are RNA and DNA structures. P aids in the transmission of genes in plants. Seeds have the highest concentration of P, followed by mature plants. 

Young cells, such as shoots and root tips, require a large amount of P since their metabolism is high and cell reproduction is quick. 

Phosphorus is involved in root development, flower initiation, seed and fruit development, and seed and fruit development.

 Phosphorus aids in the prevention of disease in some plants. It has been discovered that it improves the quality of several crops.

Essential nutrients for plants

To grow, develop, and produce at their best, plants require specific components or compounds known as plant essential nutrients.

 A plant that lacks an essential nutrient will not be able to complete its life cycle—the seed will not germinate; the plant will not be able to create appropriate roots, stalks, leaves, or flowers; and it will not be able to produce seeds to reproduce. 

The plant will most likely die. On the other hand, too much of a nutrient can harm or even kill plants. For example, too much nitrogen may cause a plant to grow more leaves but less or no fruit. 

The leaves will turn yellow and eventually die if they are exposed to too much manganese. Furthermore, a plant can be killed by too much boron.

Conclusion

Plants also require 16 key elements in order to survive. Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Nutrition are two types of nutrition discovered by scientists.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, sulphur, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine are among the thirteen important elements. 

 Minerals, carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight are used by plants to manufacture their sustenance. For growth and development, these elements must be sufficiently provided.