Plants obtain nutrient substances from their surrounding for their normal growth, development and completion of the life cycle. The use of these minerals in the nutrition of plants is called mineral nutrition
Different nutrients are being listed in the flow chart given below.
Mineral nutrition in plants: Or
Role of macro and micronutrients in plant nutrition:
- Essential elements participate in different physiological activities of plants.
- These elements play important role in, regulating the permeability of the plasma membrane, controlling osmotic pressure, electron transport system, balancing various biochemical reactions with the help of enzymes, storage of reserve food material in storage organs, buffer actions, etc.
- A brief account of availability, uses and effect of deficiency and excess of essential elements on the plants is given below.
Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen:
- These are non-mineral essential elements which are absorbed by plants from atmosphere and soil in the form of CO2, O2 and H2O.
- These are constituents of all organic compounds such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, etc.
- About 90 – 95% of the dry weight of most higher plants consists of C, H and Oxygen.
- Normally plants do not suffer from the deficiency of these elements.
Nitrogen:
- The amount of nitrogen in the air is about 78% by volume.
- Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil in the form of NO2 , NO3 and NH4 as an exception as .
- It is the main component of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins and phytohormones.
- Nitrogen is especially required in meristematic cells, buds and other metabolically active cells.
- Chemical fertilizer urea is the main source of nitrogen.
Deficiency Symptoms:
- Deficiency of nitrogen results into chlorosis, first in old leaves followed by young leaves.
- Due to the degradation of chlorophyll leaves begin to appear pinkish due to anthocyanin effect.
- Plants show stunting due to a reduced rate of respiration and protein synthesis.
