Mineral Nutrition in Plants

Several inorganic minerals are essential for plant growth

and these are usually obtained by roots from the soil.
For steady, healthy growth, plants need a constant, well-balanced supply of minerals.
Availability of minerals in the soil is determined by the
physical and chemical characteristics of the soil.

Plants must obtain the following mineral nutrients from their growing medium:

● the macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur
(S), magnesium (Mg), carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H)
● the micronutrients (or trace minerals): iron (Fe), boron (B), manganese (Mn), zinc
(Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo)

Macronutrients:

Nitrogen (N)

Key functions: When plants absorb nitrogen, it's transformed into amino acids, the proteins that
are the building blocks of all cells. Nitrogen is especially vital to the production of chlorophyll,
the green pigment in plant leaves that converts energy from light into the carbohydrates plants
feed on. Plants need nitrogen most early in their lives, when they are most actively growing
stems, branches and leaves. Waste from fish processing, sometimes called “acidulated fish
tankage,” and fermented corn extracts (which are high in Lysine, a potent amino acid) are
healthy, sources of nitrogen.

Deficiency symptoms: Yellowing of leaves, starting with the oldest (lowest on the stem). The
rest of the plant tends to look light green.

Phosphorus (P)

Key functions: Phosphorus is like a power station within plants, playing a role in every process
that involves energy transfer from one function to another. These energy transfers include
growing roots or forming flowers and fruit. Phosphorus initiates the transformation of nitrogen
into amino acids and it is the trigger that converts sunlight into carbohydrates. This element is
most in need during transitional periods in plants growth, such as the end of vegetative growth
and the beginning of the flowering stage. Bone meal provides plants with a concentrated dose of
phosphorus.
Deficiency symptoms: New leaf tips appear burnt, while older leaves turn dark green to reddish-
purple.

Potassium (K)

Key functions: Plants “breathe” carbon dioxide through tiny pores in the leaves known as
stomata. When potassium moves into the cells around the stomata, the cells collect water and
swell, allowing the pores to open and CO2 to enter. When water supplies are less than optimal,
the potassium in the cells around the stomata recedes, closing the pores to prevent water loss
and minimizing drought stress. When plants begin to flower, potassium is a catalyst in the
manufacture and delivery of the starches and sugars needed for the blossoms to fully form.
Sulfate of potash is a naturally occurring mineral used in organic plant fertilizers.

Deficiency symptoms: Older leaves wilt, then begin to look scorched around the edges.

Calcium (Ca)

Key functions: Just as people need calcium in their diets for strong teeth and bones, plants need
the mineral to build sturdy cell walls and healthy root systems. Calcium also helps transport
other nutrients from the roots to the leaves and flowers.

Deficiency symptoms: The newest leaves (at the top of the plant) are irregularly shaped or
distorted.

Sulfur (S)

Key functions: Sulfur is a critical partner to nitrogen, because it plays a key role in turning N
into amino acids and chlorophyll. Sulfur activates growth enzymes and it is a major component of
the essential oils that give flowers and fruit their scent and flavor. Manure and compost
typically have high sulfur content. Sulfuric acid is used to transform bones and other animal by-
products into fertilizer, while sulfate of potash provides your plants with both potassium and
sulfur.

Deficiency symptoms: The youngest leaves turn yellow, followed by older leaves.

Magnesium (Mg)
Key functions: As the central atom in the chlorophyll molecule, magnesium plays a critical part in
photosynthesis. It also plays an essential role in the many enzymes that activate different
stages of plant life cycles. Dolomitic limestone, a common amendment to garden soils, is a rich
source for both magnesium and calcium. It's also a key element in Epsom salts, known chemically
as magnesium sulfate.

Deficiency symptoms: Older leaves turn yellow at edge leaving a green arrowhead shape in the
center of the leaf.

The Micronutrients:
These six nutrients are just as vital as the six above to growing healthy plants, but your crops
need only tiny amounts of them.

Iron (Fe)
Key functions: Just like in human blood, iron in plants helps carry oxygen around to all of the
cells. It also works in concert with other minerals to produce chlorophyll and it aids in the
metabolism of sugars and other carbohydrates.

Deficiency symptoms: The veins of young leaves turn yellow, a condition known as "chlorosis."

Boron (B)
Key functions: Boron partners with calcium, helping it to form cell walls and move sugars around
the plant. It also aids in the plants' uptake and absorption of calcium. High pH in the nutrient
solution and high humidity inhibit plants' absorption of boron.

Deficiency symptoms: Branches and new growth are distorted, thick and brittle. The uppermost
leaves may have splotches of yellow. Unlike most nutrient deficiencies that typically exhibit
symptoms uniformly, a lack of boron can appear randomly within a crop.

Manganese (Mn)
Key functions: Easily confused with magnesium, manganese is an essential element in the
enzymes that trigger germination and new growth on plants of all ages. It also plays a role in
carbohydrate metabolism. Manganese deficiency is uncommon, but it has similar symptoms to
iron deficiency, because plants need Mn to use iron.

Deficiency symptoms: Yellowing occurs between the veins of young leaves, but the pattern is not
as regular as you see with iron deficiency.

Zinc (Zn)
Key functions: Zinc is essential for the metabolism of the carbohydrates that fuel plant growth
and for the production of auxins, hormones that stimulate plants' stems to grow upward. Excess
zinc can obstruct plants' uptake of phosphorus, iron, manganese and copper.

Deficiency symptoms: Terminal leaves – those at the end of each stem or branch – don't form
properly and yellowing occurs between their veins.

Copper (Cu)
Key functions: In a variety of ways, production of flowers, fruit and seeds depend on an
adequate supply of copper. It also plays a prominent role in converting amino acids into the
proteins used for new cells. A high pH in the nutrient solution inhibits uptake of copper by plant
roots.

Deficiency symptoms: The leaves are too dark green and growth is stunted.

Molybdenum (Mo)
Key functions: Molybdenum is a vital component of the enzymes that drive the formation of
flower pollen as well as the uptake and processing of both nitrogen and phosphorus.
Deficiency symptoms: Older leaves become yellow, while the rest of the plant becomes light
green.