Macronutrients and Micronutrients in Plants

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There are two broad categories of essential elements required by plants based on their quantitative requirements:

Macronutrients: Present in plant tissues in large amounts (in excess of 10 mmole Kg –1 of dry matter).

  • Includes Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Sulphur, Potassium, Calcium,  Magnesium.
  • Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are mainly obtained from CO2 and H2O, while the others are absorbed from the soil as mineral nutrition.

Micronutrients: Also known as trace elements.

  • Needed in very small amounts (less than 10 mmole Kg –1 of dry matter).
  • Includes Iron, Manganese, Copper, Molybdenum, Zinc, Boron, Chlorine, Nickel.

In addition to the 17 essential elements, other beneficial elements are Sodium, Silicon, Cobalt and Selenium. These are required by higher plants.

Given below is the role of macro- and micro-nutrients in plant growth and their metabolism and deficiency symptoms of these elements:

Element Functions Deficiency Symptoms Form absorbed by Plants
MACRONUTRIENTS: OBTAINED FROM WATER OR AIR ( H2O or CO2)
Oxygen Electron acceptor in cellular respiration; Major component of plant’s organic compounds Usually affects roots; cells
suffocate, rotting of roots and wilting
O2 ,  H2O
Carbon Substrate for photosynthesis;  Major component of plant’s organic compounds Slow and poor growth (starvation) CO2
Hydrogen Major component of plant’s organic compounds;
Functions in electrical balance and establishment of electrochemical gradients
Wilting, slow growth due to cell death (desiccation) H2O
MACRONUTRIENTS: OBTAINED FROM SOIL
Nitrogen Component of proteins, nucleic acids, ATP, chlorophyll, hormones, and coenzymes Chlorosis at tips of older leaves  (yellowing of older leaves) NO3(nitrate)
NH4+ (ammonium ion)
Potassium Necessary for osmotic adjustment in cells;  Major solute functioning in water balance and operation of
stomata;Required for synthesis of organic molecules;
Cofactor for some enzyme
Chlorosis at margins of leaves; Mottling of older leaves; weak stems; short internodes; roots poorly developed K+
Calcium Important component of middle lamella and cell walls; Stabilizes membrane functions; Involved in signal transduction; Enzyme cofactor  Necrosis in meristems ; Deformation or Crinkling of young leaves; Stunted, highly branched root system; Death of terminal buds Ca2+
Magnesium Chlorophyll component; Activates many enzymes Chlorosis between leaf veins found in older leaves;
Premature leaf drop
Mg2+
Phosphorus Component of ATP, nucleic acids, phospholipids, and several coenzymes Healthy appearance but stunted growth in young plants; dark green leaves with necrosis; thin stems; purpling of veins; poor flowering and fruiting H2PO4(dihydrogen
phosphate ion) HPO42− (hydrogen
phosphate ion)
Sulfur Component of proteins containing methionine and cysteine; Electron transport proteins and coenzymes Stunted growth; chlorosis in young leaves SO42− (sulfate ion)
MICRONUTRIENTS: OBTAINED FROM SOIL
Chlorine

 

Needed for water-splitting step of photosynthesis; Functions in water balance and electrical balance Wilting at leaf tips; Stubby roots; general chlorosis and necrosis of leaves or development of bronze color Cl (chloride ion)
Iron

 

Necessary for chlorophyll synthesis; Component of cytochromes and ferredoxin so needed for respiration, N2 fixation, photosynthesis;
Enzyme cofactor
Chlorosis between veins of young leaves Fe3− (ferric ion)
Fe2− (ferrous ion)
Manganese
Involved in photosynthetic O2 evolution (water-splitting step) ; Enzyme activator; Important in electron transfer; Active in formation of amino acids; Chlorosis between leaf veins of young leaves and small necrotic spots Mn2+
Zinc

 

Involved in synthesis of the plant hormone auxin ; Maintenance of ribosome structure, needed for DNA transcription; Active in formation of chlorophyll; Cofactor of some enzymes Small internodes; stunted and distorted (“puckered”) leaves or crinkled leaves Zn2+
Boron

 

Strengthens cell walls; Required for pollen tube growth and normal membrane function; Cofactor in chlorophyll synthesis Black necrosis in young leaves and buds; Death of meristems; Thick, leathery, and discolored leaves H2BO3 (borate ion)
Copper

 

Cofactor of some enzymes; Present in lignin of xylem Light-green leaves with necrotic spots; twisted and malformed leaves with drying leaf tips; roots stunted and excessively branched Cu+ (cuprous ion)
Cu2+ (cupric ion)
Nickel

 

Cofactor for enzyme functioning in nitrogen metabolism Necrosis/ death of  leaf tips Ni2+
Molybdenum

 

Cofactor in nitrogen reduction; Essential for nitrogen fixation Chlorosis of older leaves;  Death of root and shoot tips MoO42− (molybdate
ion)
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