B H O L E S H A N K A R P A I K A R A

M . S C . ( A G . )

P R E V I O U S Y E A R

D E P A R T M E N T O F S O I L S C I E N C E A N D A G R I C U L T U R E C H E M I S T R Y

I N D I R A G A N D H I K R I S H I V I S W A V I D Y A L A Y A , R A I P U R

C O L L E G E O F A G R I C U L T U R E

ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS,

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

P L A N T N U T R I T I O N I S D E F I N D S A S T H E S U P P L Y A N D A B S O R P T I O N O F C H E M I C A L

C O M P O U N D S R E Q U I R E D F O R P L A N T G R O W T H A N D M E T A B O L I S M . I T I S T H E

P R O C E S S O F A B S O R P T I O N A N D U T I L I Z A T I O N O F E S S E N T I A L E L E M E N T S F O R P L A N T

G R O W T H A N D R E P R O D U C T I O N .

PLANT NUTRIENTS

Essential plant nutrients

The essential nutrient elements required by higher plants are exclusively of inorganic nature. This exclusive requirement of higher plants for inorganic nutrients basically distinguishes these organisms from man, animals and a. number of microorganisms which additionally need organic foodstuffs. For an element to be considered an essential plant nutrient.

Three criteria as proposed by Arnon and Stout (1939) must be Satisfied. These are :

A deficiency of the element makes it impossible for the plant to complete its life cycle.

The deficiency is specific for the element in question.

The element is directly involved in the nutrition of the plant as for example as a constituent of an essential metabolite or required for the action of an enzyme system.

Several terms namely, deficient, insufficient, toxic and excessive

Deficient. When an essential element is at a low concentration that severely limits yield and produces more or less distinct deticiency symptoms. Extreme deficiencies will lead to death of the plant.

Insufficient. When the level of an essential plant nutrient is below that required for optimum yield or when there is an imbalance with another nutrient Symptoms of this condition are rarely observed.

Toxic. When the concentration of either essential of other elements is sufficiently high to inhibit plant growth to a great extent. Severe toxicity will result in death of plants.

Excessive. When the concentration of an essential plant nutrient is sufficiently high to result in a corresponding shortage of another nutrient.

TYPES OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

* Essentials - C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn,

Mo, Cu,Cl , B, Zn, Ni = 17 * Nickel (Ni) is the latest (1987) addition to the list of essential nutrients .

Primary - - N,P&K=3

Secoundry - Ca, Mg & S=3

Macro - N,P,K, Ca, Mg & S= 6

Micro - Fe, Mn ,Mo ,Cu ,Cl ,Co,B,Zn=8

Functional - Essential Elements + Co,V ,Si ,Na

Beneficial - Ru, Sr ,Ni,Cr, As

Energy Exchange - H, O

Energy Storage - C, N, P, S

Translocation regulator - Ca, Mg, K, Na

Oxidation reduction - Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Co

Differents elements according to mobile and immobile

Mobile ImmobileNitrogen Calcium

Potassium Sulphur

Magnesium Iron

Phosphorus Boron

Chlorine Cupper

Sodium

Zinc

Molybdenum

FUNCTION OF ESSENTIAL PLANT

NUTRIENTSNutrients Functions

Carbon Basic molecular components of carbohydrates,proteins,lipids and nuclic acid.

Oxygen Oxygen is some what like carbon in that it occures in virtuailly all organic compounds of living organisms.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen plays a central role in plant metabolism. Important in ionic balance and as main reducing agent

and plays a key role in energy relations of cells.

Nitrogen Nitrogen is a components of many important organic compounds ranging from protein to nuclic acid.

Phosphorus Central role in plants is in energy transfer and protein metabolism.

Potassium

Helps in osmotic and ionic regulation. Potassium functions as a cofacter or activator for many enzymes of

carbohydrates and protein metabolisms.

Calcium Calium is involved in cell division and plays a major role in tne mantanance of mambrane intigrity.

Magnesium Component of chlorophyll and a cofactor of many enzymatic reaction.

Sulphur Sulphur is somewhat like phosphorus in that is involved in plant cell inergetic.

Iron

The latter are involved in key metabolic functions such as Nitrogen fixation , photosynthesis and electron

transfer.

Zinc

Essential components of several dyhydrogenase ,and peptidase, including carbonic anhydrase , alcohal

dehydrogenase , glutamic dehydrogenase and mallic dehydrogenase, among others.

Maganease

Involved in the oxygen evolving system of photosynthesis and is components of enzymes arginase and

phosphotransferase.

Copper

Consituents of a number of a important enzymes including cytochrom oxidize, ascorbic acid oxidize, and

laccase.

Boron Involved in carbohydarate metabollism and synthesis of cell wall components.

Molybdanum

Required for the normal assimillation of nitrogen in plants . An essential components of nitrate reductase as

well as nitrogenase (nitrogen fixation enzyme).

Chlorine

Essential for photosynthesis and as an activator of enzymes involved in spiliting water. It is also function in

osmo- regulation of plants growing on saline soils.

Nikil increasing viability and germination percentage of barlay.

Function of Nitrogen

1) Increasing growth and development of all

living tissue.

2) Increasing germination of crops.

3) Improve the quality.

4) It increase utilization of P and K.

Function of Phosphorus

1) It promote to root formation and growth.

2) Improve the quality of fruits .

3) Rhizobia by increasing nodulation .

4) Seed formation and early maturity.

Function of Potassium

1) It increasing in resistant in plants against moisture stress,heat , frost and disease.

2) Improve the crop quality.

3) Lodding resistant in cereals.

4) Wilt resistant in cotton and mosaic virus resistant in cotton.

Function of Calcium

1) Increasing symbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

2) It increasing availability of molybdenum.

Function of Magnesium

1) It is constitute of chlorophyll 2) Help in the photosynthesis of the

plants.

1) Synthesis of glucosides in mustard oils.

2) Promote to nodule formation.

Function of Sulphur

1) A key role in nitrogen fixation.2)Help in the photosynthesis.3)Formation of chlorophyll.

Function of Iron

Function of Mangnease

1) Chlorophyll synthesis.

2) Development of chloroplast.

3) Increase availability of P and Ca in plants.

Function of Cooper1) Chlorophyll formation2) Electron transport from chlorophyll.

Function of Zinc

1) Role in photosynthesis.

2) It regulating of auxin concentration.

3) Flower setting and proper development of fruits.

Function of Molybdenum1) Synthesis of protein in the plants.2) Help in nitrogen fixation by rhizobia.3) Increasing in availability of P and S in soil.

Function of Boron

1) Proper development of tissue.

2) Help in maturity .

3) Formation of cell wall.

ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FOR PLANT GROWTH AND THEIR

PRINCIPLE FORMS FOR UPTAKE

NUTRIENTS CHEMICAL SYMBOLS UPTAKE FORMS

•Carbon C CO2

•Hydrogen H H2O,H+

•Oxygen O H2O,O-2

•Nitrogen N NH4+ ,NO3

-

•Phosphorus P H2PO4-,HPO4

-2,PO4-3

•Potassium K K+

•Calcium Ca Ca2+

•Magnesium Mg Mg2+

•Sulpher S SO42- , SO2

•Iron Fe Fe2+ , Fe3+

•Magnease Mn Mn2+

•Boron B H2BO3- ,B4O7

2- ,BO3-3

•Zinc Zn Zn2+

•Copper Cu Cu2+

•Molybdenum Mo MoO42-

•Chlorine Cl Cl-

•Nickel Ni Ni2+

ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS

Deficiency symptoms of nutrients

NITROGEN

N deficiency are general

chlorosis of lower leaves

(light green to yellow),

and necrosis of older

leaves

yellow discoloration from

the leaf tip backward in

the form of a “V” is common

Phosphorus (P)

turn dark green (both leaves and stems) and appear stunted .

Older leaves are affected first andmay acquire a purplish discoloration due to the accumulation of sugars in Pdeficient plants which favor anthocyanin synthesis

P deficiency in cornLeaves

Potassium (K)

reduction in growth rate,

with chlorosis and necrosis

occurring in later stages

K deficiency

Older leaves are

Calcium (Ca)

Deficiency Terminal bud

leaf becomes chlorotic white

with base remains green.

.Death of terminal

buds. Deficiency causes

’Blossom end rot’ in Tomato

and Ber and ’Tip hooking

in Cauliflower’

Magnesium (Mg)

Deficiency Older leaves will

be yellow between veins

and veins remain green

(Interveinal chlorosis).

Also affects chlorophyll

formation.

Sulfur (S)

Deficiency Yellowing of

leave, leaves are paler

than interveinal portion.

Occurrence of ’Downward

cupping of leaves in

Tobacco and Tea.

S deficient wheat plant (left) has light green

leaves and stunted growth as compared to normal

wheat plant (right).

Boron

Deficiency Yellowing/ chlorosis

starts from base of terminal bud

leaf and extends to tip results in

appearance of ’Whip like structure’

and become brownish/ blackish brown

Deficiency causes fruit cracking

In litchi’, ’Hen and Chicken

disorder in

Grape’ and ’Heart rot in

Sugarbeet’.

Chlorine (Cl)

Deficiency Younger leaves

will be chlorotic and plants

Will easily wilt. For wheat,

a plant disease will infest

the plant when Cl is deficient.

Copper (Cu)

Deficiency Leaves including

veins become yellow and

tending towards whiteness.

Occurrence of ’Marginal

leaf burning’. Deficiency Cu deficiency in wheatmelanosis disease in

wheat

Causes ’Dia back and

Little leafdisease in Citrus

Iron (Fe)

Deficiency Veins remain

conspicuously green and

other leaf portion turn

yellow and tending towards

whiteness. Interveinal

chlorosis will occur.

Deficiency causes ’Leaf

bleaching in sugarcane and

’Ivory white of paddy’ Iron deficient soybean

Manganese (Mn)

Deficiency Interveinal yellowing

of young leaves but not

tending towards whiteness.

Veins remain green. Deficiency

causes ’Marsh disease in Pea’.

Molybdenum (Mo)

Deficiency Older and middle

leaves become chlorotic

first. Translucent

Zinc (Zn)

Deficiency Upper leaves

will show chlorosis on

midrib. Veins green and

dead spots occur in all

parts of leaf (veins, tips

and margins). Plants appear

bushy due to reduced

internodal elongation.

’White bud of Maize’.is

caused by the deficiency.