Macro And Micronutrients In Plants

Plant nutrition is the detailed study of the minerals and compounds necessary for the growth and metabolism of plants. Plants require these elements to lead a normal life cycle. These elements can also be a part of some metabolites or important plant components. There are a total of seventeen different elements. Hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen are taken from the air, whereas other nutrients, including manganese, iron, nitrogen, etc., are acquired from the soil. Most of these elements stay beneath the soil as salts, so plants absorb them as ions. They are known as macronutrients and micronutrients that are essential for normal plant growth. 

What Are The Macro And Micronutrients In Plants?

There are certain elements that plants require for their growth and metabolism. Some of these elements are required in larger quantities. They are known as macronutrients. In contrast, elements needed in a minimal amount for the plant’s optimal growth are called micronutrients. The prefixes’ macro’ and ‘micro’ refer to the quantity of the minerals. Micronutrients are generally found in plant tissue at parts per million concentrations. 

List Of The Major Macronutrients And Micronutrients

The 17 essential minerals needed for the optimal growth of plants are as follows: 

Macronutrients 

• Carbon
• Hydrogen
• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Sulphur
• Magnesium

Micronutrients

• Iron
• Chlorine
• Manganese
• Boron
• Zinc
• Copper
• Nickle
• Molybdenum

Now, let’s look at some of the major macro and micronutrients in detail. 

Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen are obtained from the air. So, what are the macronutrients other than these three? They are as follows:

Nitrogen

• Amino acids, the basic components of proteins, are formed by plants using nitrogen. Proteins are required for life and serve a variety of roles in plants. For example, proteins synthesise DNA which is the genetic material required for a plant to exist and flourish; they also give structure and support to cell walls and are involved in nutrition transport and enzymatic activities. 
• Nitrogen deficiency can cause yellowing (chlorosis), stunting, and sluggish growth in plants.

Potassium

• Potassium aids in regulating turgor pressure (i.e., the ability of a plant to keep its structure) and a variety of other critical enzymatic reactions.
• Potassium deficiency leads to scorched and brown leaf tips, chlorosis in interveinal regions, shorter internodes, and loss of apical dominance. 

Phosphorus

• Photosynthesis and growth are both dependent on phosphorus for plant health. Many enzymes use phosphorus as a coenzyme or activator. It is involved in protein synthesis and aids in influencing anion-cation balance and turgidity in cells. It’s also involved in cell membrane development and the closing and opening of stomata.
•  A phosphorus deficiency could cause the plants’ poor growth or the change in colour of their foliage from vivid green to reddish-purple or blue.

Magnesium

• Magnesium is required for chlorophyll synthesis, enzyme activity, and the metabolism of carbs and lipids. 
• Magnesium deficiency causes chlorosis, a yellowing of leaves and veins, and drooping foliages.

Calcium

• Nutrient delivery, enzymatic activity, cell division, and structural support require calcium. A continual dose of calcium from the growing medium is required for plant health. In addition, calcium is required for the utilisation of nitrogen and other important elements in certain plant species. 
• Calcium deficiency can cause stunted or aberrant growth, black patches on leaves, and chlorotic leaf veins. 

Sulphur

• Sulphur is required for the synthesis of several amino acids. It’s also required for various enzyme synthesis and production of plant chlorophyll. Sulphur insufficiency can be indicated by pale green leaves (particularly young growth).

Zinc

• Zinc is required for enzyme production and a variety of enzymatic processes. In addition, it is necessary for hormonal activity, protein synthesis, and carbohydrate consumption. A zinc shortage can lead to iron insufficiency.
• Signs of zinc deficiency are chlorotic and spotted leaves. 

Iron

• Chlorophyll is formed with the help of iron, which works as a catalyst. It is one of the essential micronutrients that play a significant role in various enzymatic processes. 
• Chlorosis and stunted development are symptoms of a deficiency.

Manganese

• Manganese is required for photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen absorption.
• Chlorosis can result from a manganese deficiency, with leaves gradually turning white and dropping off. Black, grey or brown spots on leaf veins are also possible.

Sodium

Sodium is needed to maintain osmosis, the water transportation process all through the plant. In addition, among all the micronutrients, sodium aids in maintaining the ionic equilibrium required for effective mineral use.

Copper

• Copper is required for nitrogen metabolism. Hence it’s common to find it near root systems. It’s also a necessary part of several enzymes and enzymatic activity.
• Copper deficiency leads to brown speckled leaves and shrinking of shoot tips. 

Conclusion

Plants, similar to animals, require nutrients for their growth and development. They obtain these nutrients from several sources like air, water, and the growing medium. The nutrients are segregated into macro and micronutrients based on the quantity required by the plants. There are a total of 17 macro and micronutrients. In the above article, we have discussed a few significant macronutrients and micronutrients required for the optimal growth of plants.