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Chapter -6 Fertilizers and Their Role in Plant

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 Chapter - 6
Fertilizers and Their Role in Plant Growth
Dr. Anita Jaswal, M Durga Prasad, Dr. Arshdeep Singh and Maninder Singh

Abstract
Soils need fertility maintenance. Soil is a natural body of finely divided
rocks, minerals and organic matter. Sand, silt, clay and organic matter help
provide tilth, necessary aeration and favourable water intake rates, but they
seldom maintain adequate plant food to sustain continuous healthy plant
growth. Essential Nutrients are very crucial for plant growth and yield. There
are 17 elements that are known to be essential for plant growth and
development. Fertilizers (also called plant food elements) are materials
produced to supply these elements in a readily available form for plant use.
Fertilizers are applied to crops to get maximum food to feed the human
population. Fertilizers provide crops with nutrients like nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium which allow crops to grow fully and produce
maximum food. Nitrogen in particulars is an essential nutrient for the growth
of every organism on earth. Nitrogen is all around us and makes up about
78% of air you breathe. However plants and animals cannot use the nitrogen
gas in the air. To grow, plants require nitrogen compounds from the soil
which can be produced naturally or be provided by fertilizers.
Keywords: Fertilizers, essential plant nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorous,
potassium
Introduction
All living beings are essentially made up of biomolecules (Connects
non-living and living world). Lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids,
water are required for all biological processes such as cell division,
morphogenesis and other metabolic activities (anabolism and catabolism).
Along with these the plant requires several ions for translocation, Stomatal
opening, cell to cell interactions and it requires few metals which act as
prosthetic group for several enzymes (which in turn is a protein) to
accelerate the reactions in plant system. All a whole we can describe the
plant system as a chemical soup whose ash contain 60 elements (out of 118
periodic table elements) out of which 17 are said to be essential and

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remaining being non-essential elements absorbed by plant (Very few plants
require Silicon, Vanadium, Cobalt, sodium).
The 17 essential elements are classified as macro (C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca,
Mg, S) and micro elements (Mo, Fe, Zn, B, Ca, C l, Ni, Cu) most of which
are taken in ionic form excluding oxygen, carbon, hydrogen which are taken
inside as a molecule through natural openings (stomata, lenticels). All other
essential elements are taken through root system which is present in a
nutrient and anchor medium (i.e. soil, water (Hydroponics), Air
(aeroponics)). Hence these essential elements must be supplied to soil in
field conditions, put in circulating water in case of hydroponics, and as a
spray mixture in aeroponics. (As the medium for sure becomes deficit by
plant removal and other losses).
Table 1: Essential elements and their form of uptake

Sr. No. Essential Element Form of uptake

1. Carbon (C) Co2
2. Hydrogen (H) H2O
3. Oxygen (O) O2
+(Ammonium)
4. Nitrogen (N) NH4 (In paddy field), No3-(Nitrate)
- (Di
5. Phosphorus (P) H2Po4 hydrogen phosphate), HPo42-
6. Potassium (K) K+
7. Calcium (Ca) Ca+2
8. Magnesium (Mg) Mg+2
-2(Sulphate)
9. Sulphur(S) So4
10. Molybdenum (Mo) MoO4-2(Molybdate)
11. Copper (Cu) Cu+2
12. Boron (B) H3Bo3 (Boric acid), H2Bo3-(Borate)
13. Iron (Fe) Fe+2
14. Chlorine (Cl) Cl-1
15. Zinc (Zn) Zn+2
16 Manganese (Mn) Mn+2
17. Nickel (Ni) Ni+2

Elements such as Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Ni are taken as divalent
cations into plant system. C, H, O are taken as molecules through natural
openings. Other elements are taken in various valence states as show in table
1.
118 elements are seen in periodic table.
60 elements are said to be seen in plant ash (Biomass).

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 Out of these, 20 elements (Mineral and non-mineral elements) are said
to necessary. These elements are not being deemed necessary for all plants,
but for few, among few beneficial and essential elements is always difficult
for trace elements. For nitrogen fixation in legumes cobalt is required. The
deposition of silicon in cell wall improve the drought and insect pest fungal
infection.
In these 20, 17 mineral elements are recognized to be essential satisfying
the criteria of essentiality proposed by Arnon and Stout (1939).

Fig 1: Daniel Arnon (Arnon along with Stout proposed Essentiality criteria in 1939
which was later rectified by Stout in 1954)
Case study on fertilizer management in paddy field
In case of rice cultivation farmer puddles the soil the last fortnight
before sowing to bring the soil into saturation state (Waterlogged condition)
in which all macro and micro pores are completely filled by water bringing
into anaerobic conditions (no aeration in soil). Because of which two zones
are observed in soil profile of paddy field. The first 10 mm zone is aerobic
zone (Oxidized zone) where there is fresh supply of irrigation water. And
remaining profile under the aerobic zone is considered to be anaerobic zone
(Reduced zone) where there is no availability of oxygen.

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 In paddy field due to the absence of oxygen fertilizer lost in gaseous
nitrogen by denitrification and also causes changes in the behaviour of
phosphorus along with micro-nutrients like Fe and Mn.
So in case ammoniacal fertilizers (Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium
chloride, Ammonium nitrate) are added in oxidized zone the Ammonium
gets nitrified to nitrate and in turn they get leached down to the reduced zone
which leads to gaseous loss of the element nitrogen as in the reduced zone
lack of oxygen favour reduction of NO3 – to N2 gas.
Hence it is preferred to place ammonical fertilizers deep in reduced
zone.
Nitrate containing fertilizers such as CAN and ASN are susceptible to
leaching and denitrification when compared other fertilizers who not
containing nitrate. In paddy we should not use nitrate fertilizers. So, DAP is
the best fertilizer for basal application.
As known nitrification is strictly oxygen dependent process where the
NH3 is converted to NO3- and then to NO2- with the help of Nitrosomonas
and Nitrobacter (Biological process). (As shown in below equation)
NH4+-------------Nitrosomonas-------------- NO2 - ------------Nitrobacter-----------NO3-
Denitrification is just the reverse of nitrification.

Fig 2: Chlorophyll chemical structure

Chlorophyll molecule consists of 4 pyrrole rings whose nitrogen atoms
surround a central magnesium atom with 2 covalent and 2 coordinate bonds.
And has a several attached side chains and a hydrocarbon tail.

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 Fig 3: Nucleotide structure
The presence of 4 N surrounding Mg suggest the importance of these in
chlorophyll synthesis. Hence deficiency of these elements leads to chlorosis.

Fig 4: Protein
The informational biomolecules (i.e. RNA and DNA) are made up of
basic units called nucleotides (Ribose sugar+ nitrogenous base+ phosphate).
Hence nucleic acid synthesis requires nitrogen and phosphorus presence
which are primary macro nutrients.

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 Fig 5: Substrate +Enzyme reaction accelerates the process
As known traits from one generation to another generation are passed
through these biomolecules. The information is stored in these biomolecules
which differentiate each living being from other amino acids.

Fig 6: Role of Mo in plant growth

The enzyme is nothing but a protein but contain relatively lesser amino
acids when compared with structural proteins. Enzymes help in several
reactions as they decrease the activation energy and make the process easy.
These in turn are made up of same essential nutrients.

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 Fig 7: Opening and closing of stomata
Opening and closing of stomata regulated by potassium.
K+ intake by guard cell which increases OP which leads to endosmosis
and opening of pore and reverse in case of exo-osmosis.
Table 2: Physiological functions of Nutrients

Sr. No. Nutrient Function

a) Makes plant dark green and succulent. (Promote
vegetative growth. (Since its important constituent in
1. Nitrogen Chlorophyll molecule.
b) Present as a constituent in Nucleic acids, energy
currency (ATP), ADP, Amino acids (Protein, Enzymes).
a) Helps in root formation, number of tillers increased.
2. Phosphorus b) It stops the ripening of plants.
c) Increase the yield of grain.
a) Resistance to plants.
b) Produce strong straw and decrease lodging.
c) Increases efficiency of leaves in manufacturing sugars
3. Potassium
and starch.
d) Opening and closing of stomata, and all cell to cell
gradient creation.
a) It is constituent in amino acids such as Cysteine and
4. Sulphur methionine.
b) Imparts flavour to many vegetables.
a) In the form of calcium pectate it made cell wall.
5. Calcium b) Activate several enzymes and to send signals that
coordinate certain cellular activities.
a) Critical component of chlorophyll molecule.
6. Magnesium
b) Directly related with the uptake of Phosphorus.
7. Boron a) Essential for formation of cell wall.

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 b) Helps in pollination.
a) Component of large number of enzymes (Auxin’s) as a
8. Zinc
cofactor, carbohydrates formation.
a) Accumulation of proteins and fastens metabolic
9. Iron
reactions.
a) Root nodule formations in case of legumes require Mo.
10. Molybdenum b) As a constituent in enzymes which are involved in
amino acid synthesis.
a) It is required for the enzyme urease to breakdown urea to
11. Nickel liberate N into useable form.
b) It is required for iron absorption.
a) Involved in osmosis and act as balancer in
12. Chlorine
photosynthesis.
13. Sodium a) Involved in osmosis and ion balance in cells.
14. Manganese a) Component of several enzymes as a prosthetic group.

Fig 8: Deficiency symptoms of mineral elements

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Fertilizers and their classification
Straight fertilizers
Nitrogenous fertilizers
Ammonical fertilizers: Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4],
Ammonium chloride [NH4Cl], anhydrous ammonia.
Nitrate fertilizers: [NaNO3], [KNO3], [Ca(NO3)2].
Ammonical and nitrate fertilizers: Ammonium nitrate, CAN, ASN.
Amide fertilizers: Urea, Calcium cyanamide.
Phosphatic fertilizers
Single super phosphate (SSP)]
Triple super phosphate (TSP)
Potassic fertilizers
Muriate of potash (MOP) (KCl)
Sulphate of potash (K2SO4)
Complex fertilizers
DAP (Diammonium Phosphate)
Ammonium Phosphate
Nitro phosphate
Mixed fertilizers
Mixing of two or more straight fertilizers make fertilizer mixtures.
Nitrogenous fertilizers
The management aspect of nitrogen fertilizers is very important as its
prone to several losses such as leaching, volatilization, crop removal (Being
a macronutrient its heavily removed by crops), denitrification, and runoff
erosion losses. Hence Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is very important to be
considered.
Management of Nitrogen fertilizer include split dose application of the
fertilizer in specific ratios, placing the fertilizer deep in reduce zone in case
of paddy cultivation, use of neem coated, Polymer coated and sulphur coated
urea.
Practicing crop rotation, use of green manure and green leaf manure.

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 The following are few important nitrogenous fertilizers.
Urea [Co(NH2)2]

Fig 9: Urea- Granule form

The most vital nitrogenous fertilizer in market is urea with 46% nitrogen
content. It is milky white, odourless solid, highly soluble in water. When it’s
dissolved in water, it is neither acidic nor alkaline (It’s neutral in PH).
Urea is widely used in agriculture sector both as a fertilizer and animal
feed additive.
CRH (Critical relative humidity) value in urea is 70 to 75.
Advantages of urea
A) More nitrogen content.
B) Ease in availability and cheap.
C) Easy in storage.
D) Suitable for all crops.
E) pH7.
How to use urea fertilizer?
A) Urea always applied in split doses. Basal and top.
B) Ii should be mixed with sand.
C) Water should not be stagnated during application.
Table 3: Nitrogenous fertilizers and their N %

Sr. No. Nitrogenous fertilizer Chemical formulae %N

1. Urea Co(NH2)2 46%
2. Calcium cyanamide CaCN2 21%
3. Ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 21%N and 23%S
4. Ammonium chloride NH4Cl 25%
5. Ammonium nitrate NH4NO3 33-34%
6. Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) NH4NO3and dolomite 20-21%N

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 7. Calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 15%N
8. Sodium nitrate NaNO3 16%N
9. Anhydrous ammonia NH3 80-85%N

Phosphatic fertilizers
Phosphorus is one of the primary macro nutrient which is found to be in
Bone ash, bone meal, basic slag, rock phosphate and can be supplied through
chemical fertilizers such as SSP being the straight Phosphatic fertilizer and
DAP (Complex fertilizer).
Phosphorus is one of the most important elements in case of legumes.
(Where N supply is limited to basal dose as the seedlings do not fix
considerable amount of nitrogen and Potassium application is strictly
prohibited in case soil test values are found to show presence of potassium).
Table 4: Common Phosphatic fertilizers and their composition

Sr. No. Phosphate source %P2O5

1. Single super phosphate (SSP) 16%
2. Double super phosphate (DSP) 32%
3. Triple super phosphate (TSP) 48%
4. Di-Calcium phosphate 34-38%
5. Basic slag 14-18%
6. Rock phosphate 25-36%
7. Bone meal 21-25%

Single super phosphate (SSP).

Fig 10: SSP (16% P2O5) granules

Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) (Complex fertilizer)
It is a water soluble ammonium phosphate salt that can be produced
when ammonia reacts with phosphoric acid. When applied as plant food, it

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temporarily increases the soil PH, but over a long term the treated ground
becomes more acidic than before upon nitrification of ammonium. It is
incompatible to alkaline chemicals because its ammonium ion is more likely
to convert to ammonia in a high PH environment.

Fig 11: DAP (18%N and 46%P2O5)-Granule form

Potassic fertilizers
Muriate of potash (MOP)
Also called potassium chloride contain 60% potash.
Generally, it is red or pink coloured due to iron impurities.
Its water soluble, Granule product
Advantages
Easy to handle. Mix well with many other fertilizers.

Fig 12: MOP (60%K)

Effect of fertilizers on environment

Fertilizers (Agro chemicals) are been used in large rates as a result of
green revolution that occurred in 1965-1966 in major cereals (Rice and
wheat) since the varieties that was pioneer during green revolution had
capacity to utilize the heavy dose of fertilizers (As the dwarfing gene of
these cereals- made these cereals lodging resistant). But these fertilizers

Page | 84
when continued to be used on land again and again had changed the soil
chemistry and effected the environment in several ways.
Effect on soil reaction
Fluctuation of Soil PH which in turn leads to several problems such as
toxicity of Al and Fe in acidic soil. Toxicity of Mo in basic soil. Similarly,
non-availability of Mo and Ca is acidic soil. And non-availability of B in
basic soil.
Fluctuation of soil reaction in turn effect growth of microorganisms. As
each microorganism as its own specific PH requirements.

Fig 13: Chart showing relationship between PH and nutrient availability

Equivalent acidity and Equivalent basicity

It may be defined as the amount of CaCO3 required to neutralize the
acid residue.
Table 5: Acid Equivalent values

Fertilizer Acid equivalent

Ammonium chloride 128
Ammonium sulphate 110
Ammonium sulphate nitrate 93
Ammonium phosphate 86
Urea 80

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 It is advisable to add acid forming fertilizers in alkaline soils
Residual basicity caused by application of basic fertilizer expressed in
terms of calcium carbonate equivalent of basic residues left by fertilizer
material.

Fig 14: Ammonium chloride Fig 15: Ammonium sulphate

Fig 16: Ammonium sulphate nitrate Fig 17: Ammonium phosphate

Conclusion
As the plant system (Living system) requires essentially 17 different
elements where each element is playing a different role in plant. These
elements are acting as basic ingredients of all bio molecules; few are playing
a role as ion balancers which leads to several activities such as stomatal
opening and etc. Few are prosthetic groups for several enzymes. Mo is acting
as a prosthetic group in denitrification so that amino acids are formed in
plant cell. Ni acts as a prosthetic group in urease enzyme which convert urea
into nitrite and further into nitrate which is made available to plant. All these

Page | 86
essential elements are taken in various forms, few in molecular form and few
in various valence states. In case of rice field N is taken in the form of NH4+.
As the soil medium doesn’t contain these elements as these are removed by
crop time to time and several nutrients are lost as waste by runoff losses,
leaching, denitrification, volatilization. Hence there is a need for
supplements termed fertilizers. Fertilizers are classified as straight,
compound and complex. Straight fertilizers supply any one primary macro
nutrient, whereas mixed and complex fertilizers supply more than 1 or 2
primary macro nutrients. The main distinction between these two is that in
case of former the straight fertilizers are mixed mechanically or manually,
whereas in latter the elements exist in a compound state (DAP). N, P, K
being the primary macro elements are usually considered specially as they
are removed by the crop in more amounts and the law of limiting factors
(Liebig’s law) make them most important nutrient elements. (But same law
can apply even apply for others). Nitrogenous fertilizers are classified as
ammonical, nitrate, ammonical and nitrate and amide fertilizers. Among
these nitrate fertilizers (Potassium nitrate, Sodium nitrate) are prone to
leaching and ammonical fertilizers are generally resistant to leaching as
ammonium gets adhered to soil particle. Later in the chapter the fertilizers
such as urea, SSP, DAP, MOP were discussed in detail.
Even though fertilizers are playing a role in plant growth but improper
management of them or excessive application of fertilizers leads to several
problems such as eutrophication, fluctuation in soil PH, environmental
balance gets loosed. Hence proper management of these agriculture
chemicals in very important. At the end of the chapter it’s told how to
measure soil acidity and basicity by seeing values of Equivalent acidity and
Equivalent basicity for which CaCO3 was taken as reference compound.
References
1. Ajari O, Tsado L, Oladiran J, Salako E. Plant height and fruit yield of
okra as affected by field application of fertilizer and organic matter. The
Nigerian Agricultural Journal. 2003; 34:74-80.
2. Akande MO, Oluwatoyinbo FI, Adediran JA, Buari K. Soil amend
ments affect the release of P from rock phosphate and the development
and yield of Okra. Journal of Vegetable Crop Production. 2003; 9(2):3-
9, https://doi.org/10.1300/J068v09n02_02 Aniefiok IA, 2013.
3. Effects of Poultry Manure and Plant Spacing on the Growth and Yield
of Waterleaf (Talinum fruticosum L. Juss). Journal of Agronomy,
Awodun MA. 2007; 12(3):146-152.

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4. Effect of Goat Manure and Urea Fertilizer on soil, Growth and Yield of
Okra. International Journal of Agricultural Research, 2011; 2(7):632-
636. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijar.2007.632.636 Ayeni LS.
5. Integrated Plant nutrition management: A panacea for sustainable crop
production in Nigeria. International Journal of Soil Sciences, Buob T.
2008; 1:19-24.
6. Fertilizing the Organic Garden. University of New Hampshire
Cooperative Extension, Fagwalawa LD and Yahaya SM, 2016, 1-4.
7. Effect organic manure on the growth and Yield of Okra. Imperial
Journal of Agriculture, 2(3), 130-133.
8. Farinde AJ, Owolarafe OI, Ogungbemi OI. An overview of production,
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Page | 88
 Advanced Research
and
Review in Agronomy
Volume - 1

Chief Editor
Dr. Prabhat Kumar Chaturvedi
Head of Department, Department of Agronomy, National Post Graduate
College, Barhalganj, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Bright Sky Publications

New Delhi
Published By: Bright Sky Publications

Bright Sky Publications

Office No 3, 1st Floor,
Pocket - H34, SEC-3,
Rohini, Delhi, 110085, India
Phone: +91-9911215212, +91-9999779515
Email: brightskypublications@gmail.com

Chief Editor: Dr. Prabhat Kumar Chaturvedi

The author/publisher has attempted to trace and acknowledge the materials

reproduced in this publication and apologize if permission and
acknowledgements to publish in this form have not been given. If any material
has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so that we may rectify
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© Bright Sky Publications

Publication Year: 2021
Pages: 88
ISBN: 978-81-952451-9-2
Book DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/bs.book.30
Price: ` 698/-
 Contents

Chapters Page No.

1. Impact of Chemical Fertilizer Pollution on Environment and the
Sustainable Agricultural Solutions 01-19
(Bindhya BN, Anjaly V and Reshma J Murugan)

2. Bio Fortification-Apromising Technology for Global Food

Security 21-38
(P. Anji Babu, V.S.L. Raj Rushi K, V. Sai Surya Gowthami and D.K.D.
Deekshitha)

3. Water Management for Climate Resilient Agriculture 39-49

(Nallagatla Vinod Kumar, Sannidi Sushma, Koyi Jyothsna, Kasa Kiran Kumar
Reddy and Rayapati Karthik)

4. Crop Management Practices for Climate Resilient Agriculture 51-58

(Sannidhi Sushma, Nallagatla Vinod Kumar, Kasa Kiran Kumar Reddy, B.
Venkatesh and A. Tharun Kumar)

5. Allelopathy: A Tool for Sustainable Weed Management 59-69

(Jyothi Swaroopa, Dr. Gajanan Sawaroankar, Venkatesh Bathula, Vinod Kumar
and Mani Chandana)

6. Fertilizers and Their Role in Plant Growth 71-88

(Dr. Anita Jaswal, M Durga Prasad, Dr. Arshdeep Singh and Maninder Singh)

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