By Daniele Schafer
You may think that plants only need sunlight and water to germinate a seed, grow a leaf, flower and produce a fruit in some cases, but plants need much more for their survival than that. In order for plants to have a normal and health life cycle, they also need minerals.
Bellow is a compiled table of some of the most important micro- and macro- elements. The table is display in reference of their nutrient deficiency, following by the significance for the plant cell, then the cause of deficiency, and finally the visible phenotype expression observed on plants.
Specific Vocabulary:
Microelement: they are required in relatively small quantities
Macro
-P (Phosphorus)
DNA, RNA, ATP
When soil has ph 6.8 and higher, which difficult the absortion by the roots
Macro
-K (Potassium)
Ionic balance in cells
Sandy soils
Macro
-S (Sulfur)
Protein and vitamins
Deficiency of microorganism capable of oxidizing sulfides or decomposing organic sulfur compounds
Macro
-Ca (Calcium)
Cell wall
Seldom deficient under natural conditions
Macro
-K (Potassium)
Ionic balance in cells
Sandy soils
Macro
-S (Sulfur)
Protein and vitamins
Deficiency of microorganism capable of oxidizing sulfides or decomposing organic sulfur compounds
Macro
-Ca (Calcium)
Cell wall
Seldom deficient under natural conditions
Micro
-Mg (Magnesium)
Chlorophyll molecules
When soil is strongly acid, sandy soils
Micro
-Fe (Iron)
Photosynthesis and respiration
Propensity of Fe3+ to form insoluble hydrous oxides.
In neutral or alkaline calcareous soil
Micro
-Cu (Copper)
Photosynthesis
When soil is not aerated, which little oxygen used to reduce Cu2+to Cu
Micro
-B (Boron)
Exact role unclear
When soil has ph>8
Micro
-Mn (Manganese)
Respiration and nitrogen metabolism
If soil ph < 6 and have high organic content
Micro
-Cl (Chlorine)
Ionic balance in cells
Hardly deficient (only seeing in controlled solution)
Micro
-Ni (Nickel)
Uncertain
Not completed understood, some how related to seed content
Micro
-Mo (Molybdenum)
Nitrogen metabolism
If soil is acid with high content of iron precipitates, which absorbs the element
Micro
-Zn ( Zinc)
Respiration and nitrogen metabolism
Disturbances in metabolism of the hormone Auxin