MINERAL NUTRITION

PLANT NUTRITION
Utilization by plants of inorganic substances in the
form of nutrients
Most nutrients are absorbed by plants through the
roots. The nutrients are actually dissolved in water
(soil solution)
In absorption, certain oxidation or reduction state of
the nutrient is favored.
 THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

There are many elements that can be found in

plants but only a few are considered essential.

The criteria for essentiality:

a. if a plant is grown in a medium devoid of that
element, the plant will not be able to complete its
life cycle.
b. the element cannot be replaced by another
element.
c. the element is shown to be constituent of a
molecule or substance known to be an essential
metabolite.
Quantity and Form of Nutrients
o Macronutrients

Required by plants in relatively large amounts,

include:
CHO
NPK
Ca Mg S
o Micronutrients

Required in small amounts, include:

Fe, Mn, B, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Ni
-Also called minor or trace elements.
 Forms of Nutrients
a. Cations - NH4+, K+, Ca++, Mg++ Fe++, Fe+++, Cu++, Zu+, Mn++

b.Anions - HPO4=, HPO3=, PO4-, SO4-, HBO3- MoO4-, Cl-, NO3-

Other Essential Elements

- A few other elements are considered as beneficial, in the
sense that they can improve growth, but are not absolutely
necessary
e.g., Co, Na, Se, Si

- In rice, Si is essential (20% of rice dry matter) nutrients

Role/Function of Essential Elements
1. Structural
elements is incorporated into the chemical structure of
biological molecules or are used in forming structural
polymers.
e.g., Ca in pectin
P in phospholipids
CHO in carbohydrates
CHON in protein
2. Electrochemical
element involved in:
balancing of ions concentration
stabilization of macromolecules
stabilization of colloids
neutralization of charges
e.g. N P S for energy storage/transfer
K Ca Mg for balancing charges

3. Catalytic
element involved in the active sites of enzymes
e.g., most micro-elements are involved in enzyme
activation, electron transport
Comments:
their roles may sometimes overlap
e.g., Mg is part of the chlorophyll structure,
chlorophyll is an important catalytic molecules
some macronutrients can perform all 3 roles
most micronutrients serve only catalytic
functions
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

o indication/manifestation of a growth disorder due to

nutrient insufficiency
o symptoms may also indicate the role/function of the
element:
-symptoms manifested in older/lower leaves indicate
mobility of an element, i.e., the element can be transported
to young leaves as needed.
-a symptom can be localized indicating that the
elements function is specific to that part of the plant.

o it is difficult to rely on visual symptoms

 TOXICITY OF ELEMENTS
commonly caused by heavy metals,
e.g., Hg (mercury), Pb (lead), aluminum (in acid
soils)
Al toxicity Al precipitates in the roots, interfere
with the uptake of Ca, Fe; interfere with P
metabolism
 Implications to crop production

Soil fertility as a key factor to crop

production
Needs an integrated nutrient

management approach