Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Plant nutrition is the study of the chemical elements that are necessary for plant growth. A chemical element is a type of Atom that is distinguished by its Atomic number; that is by the number of Protons in its nucleus. There are several principles that apply to plant nutrition.

Some elements are essential, meaning that the absence of a given mineral element will cause the plant to fail to complete its life cycle; that the element cannot be replaced by the presence of another element; and that the element is directly involved in plant metabolism (Arnon and Stout, 1939). A life cycle is a period involving 1 Generation of an Organism through means of Reproduction, whether through Asexual reproduction or Sexual Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. However, this principle does not leave any room for the so-called beneficial elements, whose presence, while not required, has clear positive effects on plant growth.

Plants require specific elements for growth and, in some cases, for reproduction.

Major nutrients include:

Minor Nutrients:

These nutrients are further divided into the mobile and immobile nutrients. Boron (ˈbɔərɒn is a Chemical element with Atomic number 5 and the chemical symbol B. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Chlorine (ˈklɔriːn from the Greek word 'χλωρóς' ( khlôros, meaning 'pale green' is the Chemical element with Atomic number 17 and A plant will always supply more nutrients to its younger leaves than its older ones, so when nutrients are mobile, the lack of nutrients is first visible on older leaves. When a nutrient is less mobile, the younger leaves suffer because the nutrient does not move up to them but stays lower in the older leaves. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are mobile nutrients, while the others have varying degrees of mobility. Concentration of ppm (parts per million) represents the dry weight of a representative plant.

Contents

Functions of essential nutrients

Each of these nutrients is used in a different place for a different essential function.


Carbon

Carbon is what most of the plant is made of. It forms the backbone of many plant biomolecules, including starches and cellulose. A biomolecule is any organic Molecule that is produced by living Organisms including large Polymeric molecules such as Proteins Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide Cellulose is an Organic compound with the formula, a Polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β(1→4 Carbon is fixed through photosynthesis from the carbon dioxide in the air and is a part of the carbohydrates that store energy in the plant. Photosynthesis is a Metabolic pathway that converts Light Energy into Chemical energy. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single

Hydrogen

Hydrogen also is necessary for building sugars and building the plant. It is obtained from air and liquid water.

Oxygen

Oxygen is necessary for cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is the set of the metabolic reactions and processes that take place in Organisms cells to convert biochemical energy from Cellular respiration is the process of generating energy-rich adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via the consumption of sugars made in photosynthesis. Adenosine-5'-triphosphate ( ATP) is a multifunctional Nucleotide that is most important as a " molecular currency" of intracellular Energy It is obtained from the air.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is important in plant bioenergetics. Biological thermodynamics is a phrase that is sometimes used to refer to Bioenergetics, the study of Energy transformation in the Biological sciences Biological As a component of ATP, phosphorus is needed for the conversion of light energy to chemical energy (ATP) during photosynthesis. Phosphorus can also be used to modify the activity of various enzymes by phosphorylation, and can be used for cell signalling. Phosphorylation is the addition of a Phosphate (PO4 group to a Protein molecule or a small molecule Cell signaling is part of a Complex system of Communication that governs basic cellular activities and coordinates cell actions Since ATP can be used for the biosynthesis of many plant biomolecules, phosphorus is important for plant growth and flower/seed formation. Biosynthesis is a phenomenon wherein Chemical compounds are produced from simpler Reagents Biosynthesis unlike Chemosynthesis, takes place within living A biomolecule is any organic Molecule that is produced by living Organisms including large Polymeric molecules such as Proteins A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored

Potassium

Potassium regulates the opening and closing of the stoma by a potassium ion pump. In Botany, a stoma (also stomate; plural stomata) is a tiny opening or pore found mostly on the underside of a Plant Leaf Since stomata are important in water regulation, potassium reduces water loss from the leaves and increases drought tolerance. A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply Potassium deficiency may cause necrosis or interveinal chlorosis. Potassium deficiency, also known as Potash deficiency, is a plant disorder that is most common on light sandy Soils as well as Chalky

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential component of all proteins, and as a part of DNA, it is essential for growth and reproduction as well. Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known Nitrogen deficiency most often results in stunting. This is about nitrogen compounds in plant nutrition For shortage of nitrogen compounds in human and animal nutrition see Protein deficiency.

Sulphur

Sulfur produces energy in plants, which is important to growth.

Calcium

Calcium regulates transport of other nutrients into the plant. Calcium deficiency results in stunting. Calcium (Ca deficiency is a plant disorder that can be caused by insufficient calcium in the growing medium but is more frequently a product of a compromised nutrient mobility system

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important part of chlorophyll, a critical plant pigment important in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is a green Pigment found in most Plants Algae and Cyanobacteria. For the drug referred to as "pigment" see Black tar heroin. It is important in the production of ATP through its role as an enzyme cofactor. Adenosine-5'-triphosphate ( ATP) is a multifunctional Nucleotide that is most important as a " molecular currency" of intracellular Energy A cofactor is a non-protein Chemical compound that is bound (either tightly or loosely to an Enzyme and is required for Catalysis. There are many other biological roles for magnesium-- see Magnesium in biological systems for more information. Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion Magnesium deficiency can result in interveinal chlorosis. Magnesium (Mg deficiency is a plant disorder with two main causes In Botany, chlorosis is a condition in which leaves produce insufficient Chlorophyll.

Iron

Iron is necessary for photosynthesis and is present as an enzyme cofactor in plants. Iron deficiency can result in interveinal chlorosis and necrosis. Iron (Fe deficiency is a plant disorder also known as ‘lime-induced chlorosis’ In Botany, chlorosis is a condition in which leaves produce insufficient Chlorophyll. Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = "dead" is the name given to unnatural Death of cells and living tissue.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum is a cofactor to enzymes important in building amino acids.

Boron

Boron is important in sugar transport, cell division, and synthesizing certain enzymes. Cell division is a process by which a cell, called the parent cell divides into two or more cells called daughter cells. Boron deficiency causes necrosis in young leaves and stunting. Boron (B deficiency is a rare disorder affecting plants growing above a Granite bedrock which is low in Boron.

Copper

Copper is important for photosynthesis. Symptoms for copper deficiency include chlorosis.

Manganese

Manganese is necessary for building the chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are Organelles found in Plant cells and eukaryotic Algae that conduct Photosynthesis. Manganese deficiency may result in coloration abnormalities, such as discolored spots on the foliage. Manganese (Mn deficiency is a plant disorder that is often confused with and occurs with iron deficiency. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis.

Zinc

Zinc is required in a large number of enzymes and plays an essential role in DNA transcription. A typical symptom of zinc deficiency is the stunted growth of leaves, commonly known as "little leaf" and is caused by the oxidative degradation of the growth hormone auxin

Nickel

Nickel is required in a nitrogen metabolism, however the requirement is vague in all but a very few select plants. Auxins are a class of Plant growth substance (often called Phytohormone or Plant hormone) The nitrogen cycle is the Biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformations of Nitrogen and nitrogen-containing compounds in nature

Additional elements include silicon, also used only in a few select plants. Silicon (ˈsɪlɪkən or /ˈsɪlɪkɒn/ silicium is the Chemical element that has the symbol Si and Atomic number 14 Cobalt has proven to be beneficial to at least some plants, but is essential in others, such as legumes where it is required for nitrogen fixation. Cobalt (ˈkoʊbɒlt is a hard lustrous silver-grey Metal, a Chemical element with symbol Co. A legume is a Plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae or a Fruit of these specific plants Nitrogen fixation is the process by which Nitrogen is taken from its natural relatively inert molecular form (N2 in the atmosphere and converted into Vanadium may be required by some plants, but at very low concentrations. Vanadium (vəˈneɪdiəm is a Chemical element that has the symbol V and Atomic number 23 It may also be substituting for molybdenum. Selenium and sodium may also be beneficial. Selenium (səˈliniəm is a Chemical element with the Atomic number 34 represented by the chemical symbol Se, an atomic mass of 78 Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Sodium can replace potassium's regulation of stomatal opening and closing.

Plant nutrition is a difficult subject to understand completely, partially because of the variation between different plants and even between different species or individuals of a given clone. Cloning in Biology is the process of producing populations of genetically-identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as Bacteria, Insects Elements present at low levels may demonstrate deficiency, and toxicity is possible at levels that are too high. Further, deficiency of one element may present as symptoms of toxicity from another element, and vice-versa. Carbon and oxygen are absorbed from the air, while other nutrients are absorbed from the soil. Green plants obtain their carbohydrate supply from the carbon dioxide in the air by the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a Metabolic pathway that converts Light Energy into Chemical energy.

See also

External links

Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant Dietary minerals are the Chemical elements required by living Organisms other than the four elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic