Major: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium.
PLANT NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
Nitrogen N; Phosphorus (Phosphates) P2O5; Potassium K2O; (commonly referred to as N.P.K.); Calcium; Magnesium.
Minor (trace) nutrients: Iron; The following are trace elements, : Manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, Sulphur, (Chlorine Sodium).
NITROGEN
Major requirement for growth in the plant; Associated with green leaves and shoots; Also in chlorophyll; Promotes growth.
PHOSPHOROUS
Associated with energy in the meristems/growing tips of roots and shoots and also respiration; Promotes root growth – added to seed compost; Applied in autumn to lawns to toughen the grass up for winter, makes it more resistant to cold, allows roots to anchor and grow.
PHOSPHATES
POTASSIUM
Involved in resistance to chilling, drought and diseases; Associated with flower and fruit production.
NPK
CALCIUM
Constituent of cell walls and also influences the activity of meristems especially root tips.
MAGNESIUM
Constituent of chlorophyll, activation of enzymes and movement of phosphates;
Green leaves;
Feed show plants often to darken the leaves.
CHEMICAL ELEMENT
N (CHEMICAL ELEMENT)
nitrogen
K2O (CHEMICAL ELEMENT)
potassium
P2O5 (CHEMICAL ELEMENT)
phosphorous
TRACE ELEMENT
MANGANESE
BORON
COPPER
MOLYBDENUM
SULPHUR
CHLORINE
SODIUM
Minor: Iron.
IRON
In chlorophyll. Most available in low pH soils
State ONE role of EACH of these nutrients in the plant.
NITROGEN
Major requirement for growth in the plant; Associated with green leaves and shoots; Also in chlorophyll; Promotes growth.
PHOSPHOROUS
Associated with energy in the meristems/growing tips of roots and shoots and also respiration; Promotes root growth – added to seed compost; Applied in autumn to lawns to toughen the grass up for winter, makes it more resistant to cold, allows roots to anchor and grow.
POTASSIUM
Involved in resistance to chilling, drought and diseases; Associated with flower and fruit production.
CALCIUM
Constituent of cell walls and also influences the activity of meristems especially root tips.
MAGNESIUM
Constituent of chlorophyll, activation of enzymes and movement of phosphates;
Green leaves;
Feed show plants often to darken the leaves.
IRON
In chlorophyll. Most available in low pH soils
Describe the visual symptoms of deficiency of EACH nutrient listed above.
NITROGEN DEFICIENCY
Stunted growth, pale green/small leaves;
Apples – leaves going red early autumn and falling early, thin poor growth, much die back as bud die, few flowers, fruit small but highly coloured.
NITROGEN TOXICITY
Cabbages – very large leaves, dark green, collapsing in rain, white blister.
Soft growth prone to botrytus
PHOSPHOROUS DEFICIENCY
Lack of growth and flowers the same as nitrogen;
Autumn colour purple and bronze;
Fruit green and sharp;
Deficiency showing most late season July/August;
Worst on chalk soils.
PHOSPHOROUS TOXICITY
POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY
Short growth and much die back;
Leaves bluish-green with slight chlorosis;
Edges of leaves brown and die (marginal scorch);
Less flowers and fruit;
Fruit falls early looking immature but is sweet, lacking acid;
Known antagonism with magnesium (ratio 3/1 potassium to magnesium).
POTASSIUM TOXICITY
CALCIUM DEFICIENCY
Shows up in individual plants as bitter pit of apples, blossom end-rot of tomato, black-heart of celery, internal browning of Brussels sprouts, tip-burn of lettuce.
CALCIUM TOXICITY
MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY
Old leaves chlorotic between veins – this dies out leaving inter-venial patches (common on raspberries on chalk soils and tomato).
MAGNESIUM TOXICITY
IRON DEFICIENCY
Young leaves all yellow/bright yellow tips;
Marginal scorch, die back of growth;
Usually lime induced.
IRON TOXICITY
PHOSPHOROUS DEFICIENCY
Lack of growth and flowers the same as nitrogen;
Autumn colour purple and bronze;
Fruit green and sharp;
Deficiency showing most late season July/August;
Worst on chalk soils.
Describe the influence of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus on plant growth and development e.g. nitrogen for leafy growth.
NITROGEN
Major requirement for growth in the plant; Associated with green leaves and shoots; Also in chlorophyll; Promotes growth.
PHOSPHOROUS
Associated with energy in the meristems/growing tips of roots and shoots and also respiration; Promotes root growth – added to seed compost; Applied in autumn to lawns to toughen the grass up for winter, makes it more resistant to cold, allows roots to anchor and grow.
POTASSIUM
Involved in resistance to chilling, drought and diseases; Associated with flower and fruit production.
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