MACRO AND MICRO NUTRIENTS

REPORTED BY:
CHARLIE BASUG
FLORANTE BAYUDAN
Agriculture relies on a balanced supply of macro and
micronutrients to ensure the healthy growth of crops
and optimal yield. These nutrients are essential for
plant development, metabolism, and overall
productivity, Let's delve into the details of macro and
micronutrients in agriculture.
1. Macro nutrients are essential elements required by plants
in relatively large quantities. They are the primary building
blocks of plant tissues and play a crucial role in various
physiological processes.

The three main macro nutrients:

a. Nitrogen (N)
b. Phosphorus (P)
c. Potassium (K)
NITROGEN is a vital component of amino acids, proteins,
chlorophyll, and DNA. it is responsible for promoting leafy
growth and increasing crop yields. Adequate nitrogen supply
is essential for lush green foilage and overall plant health.

PHOSPHORUS is involved in energy transfer processes

within the plant and is critical for root development, flower
formation, and fruiting. it enchances early plant growth and
overall crop quality.
POTASSIUM helps regulate water uptake, enzyme activation,
and photosynthesis. it contributes to overall plant vigor,
disease resistance, and stress tolerance.
2. MICRONUTRIENTS also known as trace
elements, are required in smaller quantities but are
equally essential for plant health and development.
They serve as cofactors for various enzymatic
reactions and play a significant role in various
biochemical processes.
SOME ESSENTIAL MICRONUTRIENTS

a. IRON (Fe) is crucial for chlorophyll formation and

photosynthesis. it is essential for energy production within
plant cells.

b. ZINC (Zn) is involved in enzyme activation and plays a

vital role in auxin synthesis, which affects plant growth and
development.
c. MANGANESE (Mn) is essential for photosynthesis, as it
participates in the water splitting process of the photosystem
II cpmplex.

d. COPPER (Cu) is involved in several enzymatic reactions

and is necesarry for the proper functioning of many plant
processes.

e. BORON (B) is required for cell wall formation,

carbohydrate metabolism, and pollen germination
f. MOLYBDENUM (Mo) is essential for nitrogen fixation in
legumes and helps in the enzymes involved in nitrate
reduction.

g. CHLORINE (CI) is involved in photosynthesis and ionic

balance within plant cells.
Criteria of essentiality

Essentiality refers to the criteria used to determine whether

particular nutrients is considered essential for plants growth
and development. Essential nutients are those that are
required for normal plant functioning and connot be
substituted by other elements. To be classified as essential, a
nutrient must meet certian criteria.
Three Criteria for Essentiality of Nutrients

1. A plant cannot complete its life-cycle in the absence of the

element.
2. The action of the element must be specific, with no other
elements being able to completely substitute for it.
3. The element must be shown to be directly involved in the
nutrition of the plant.
Eighteen Essential Nutrients for Plant Growth

There are 18 essential nutrients for plant growth: 3

structural, 6 macronutrients, and 9 micronutrients.
Macronutrients

• There structural are: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen

(O)
• Six macronutrients are from soil: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus
(P), Potssium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Sulfur
(S).
Micronutrients

Compared with macronutrients, the concentrations of the nine 9

micronutrients in plants may be very small. This does not mean
they are not important. Dificiencies or excesses of the
micronutrients can cause yield loss just as macronutrient
deficiencies or toxicities. Micronutrients are often considered
enzyme nutrients.
• All micronutrients are from soil.
• Six mricrontrients are cations: Copper (Cu), Manganese
(Mn), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co).
• Three micronutrients are anions: Chloride (Cl), Boron (B),
Molybdenum (Mo).
THANK YOU