Plant Nutrition

Floral Careers Plant Propagation

 Non-fertilizer Nutrients
 Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O).
 These elements are supplied to the plant in
the water and carbon dioxide it absorbs for
photosynthesis.
 All 3 are essential, non-fertilizer
macroelements (or macronutrients).
 Macroelements
 Macroelements are elements required by
plants in relatively large quantities.
 In addition to C, H, and O, 6 other elements
are recognized as macroelements.
 Macroelements
 They are:
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorous (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulfur (S)
 Microelements
 Microelements are elements needed by
plants in very small quantities.
 Microelements are just as important as
macroelements.
 Microelements
 There are 8 essential microelements:
• Iron (Fe)
• Copper (Cu)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Boron (B)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Nickel (Ni)
 The Essential Elements

Carbon (C)
6 8
Hydrogen (H) + + =
Macroelements Microelements
Oxygen (O)
 Essential
Elements
17 for

Plant
Growth
Deficiency Symptoms of the
Macroelements and Iron
 Nitrogen Deficiency
 General chlorosis
(yellowing) of the
leaves.
 Older leaves showing
symptoms first.

N deficiency in potato
 Phosphorous Deficiency
 Reduced plant size
 Darkened foliage with
a purplish cast.

P deficiency in corn
 Potassium Deficiency
 Margins eventually
turning brown.
 Symptoms develop on
lower leaves first.

K deficiency on red currant

 Calcium Deficiency
 Young leaves are
prominently malformed.
 Poor root development.

Ca deficiency on sugar
beet
 Magnesium Deficiency
 Interveinal chlorosis.
 Starts on the older
leaves and progresses
towards the top of the
plant.

Mg deficiency on grape
 Sulfur Deficiency
 A chlorosis develops which affects the entire
plant except the very tip.
 Symptoms similar to a nitrogen deficiency.
 Iron Deficiency

 Interveinal chlorosis
developing on the
youngest leaves first.
 Damage confined to
the upper regions of
the plant.

Fe deficiency on cherry
The End