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Mineral nutrition refers to the supply and absorption of essential mineral elements required for plant growth and development. For example, nitrogen from the soil is absorbed as nitrate or ammonium ions. It is vital for making proteins and chlorophyll, directly affecting plant health and yield.
What is Mineral Nutrition?
The process that involves the absorption and utilization of mineral elements by plants for their growth and development is known as mineral nutrition. Plants show definite deficiency symptoms in the absence of these elements. Sixteen essential mineral elements are mostly absorbed by the plants, of which nine elements are required in bulk amounts, and seven elements suffice the need in trace amounts.
The essentiality of a mineral element depends on whether the element is indispensable for normal growth, directly involved in metabolism, or replaceable by another element. The essential elements are further classified into macro elements and micro elements.
Alt-text: Mineral nutrition through soil (left) and soilless culture/hydroponics (right)
Sources of Essential Elements
The different macro and microelements with their sources are tabulated below:
| Type of Elements | Name of Elements | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Macro Elements | Carbon (C) | Atmospheric CO₂, carbonates and bicarbonates in soil |
| Hydrogen (H) | From water in soil | |
| Oxygen (O) | Atmospheric O₂ and dissolved oxygen in water | |
| Phosphorus (P) | Water-soluble phosphates from soil | |
| Potassium (K) | Sulphate and phosphate compounds in soil | |
| Nitrogen (N) | Nitrates and nitrogen-fixing bacteria | |
| Sulphur (S) | Atmospheric SO₂ and sulphate ions | |
| Calcium (Ca) | Soluble calcium salts in soil | |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Carbonate and sulphate salts | |
| Micro Elements | Boron (B) | Tetraborate anions and boric acid |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Molybdate ions | |
| Iron (Fe) | Ferric form | |
| Zinc (Zn) | Cationic form | |
| Manganese (Mn) | Manganese salts | |
| Chlorine (Cl) | Soluble chlorides | |
| Copper (Cu) | Soluble copper salts |
Functions of Essential Elements
| Type | Element | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Macro | Carbon | Structural part of cell wall and membrane |
| Hydrogen | Photosynthesis and structure | |
| Oxygen | Electron transport and respiration | |
| Phosphorus | ATP, NADP, phospholipids | |
| Potassium | Enzyme activation, stomatal movement | |
| Nitrogen | Proteins, enzymes, hormones | |
| Sulphur | Amino acids, vitamins, proteins | |
| Calcium | Cell wall, membrane stability | |
| Magnesium | Chlorophyll, enzyme activation | |
| Micro | Boron | Carbohydrate transport, pollen tube growth |
| Molybdenum | Nitrogen fixation, nitrate reductase | |
| Iron | Chlorophyll synthesis, electron transport | |
| Zinc | Enzyme activation, IAA synthesis | |
| Manganese | Enzyme activation, photosystem protection | |
| Chlorine | Photosynthesis and photolysis of water | |
| Copper | Electron carrier plastocyanin |
Deficiency Symptoms in the Absence of the Essential Elements
Lack of the macroelements and microelements can be recognized through the following features:
| Type | Element | Deficiency Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Macro | Carbon | Retarded growth, poor protein synthesis |
| Hydrogen | Stunted growth, chlorosis | |
| Oxygen | Respiration disturbance | |
| Phosphorus | Leaf necrosis, early leaf fall | |
| Potassium | Leaf margin necrosis, stunted growth | |
| Nitrogen | Chlorosis, suppressed flowering | |
| Sulphur | Leaf yellowing, weak stem | |
| Calcium | Death of growing regions | |
| Magnesium | Interveinal chlorosis | |
| Micro | Boron | Shoot tip death |
| Molybdenum | Leaf distortion | |
| Iron | Leaf chlorosis | |
| Zinc | Small leaves, short internodes | |
| Manganese | Leaf necrosis | |
| Chlorine | Wilting, poor photosynthesis | |
| Copper | Dieback, leaf distortion |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the optimum quantity of macro- and microelements required by plants?
Plants require macronutrients in amounts greater than 10 mmol/kg of dry matter, while micronutrients are needed in amounts less than 10 mmol/kg of dry matter.
Q2. What is hydroponics?
Plants primarily absorb minerals from the soil through their roots in the form of inorganic ions. They can also obtain minerals when grown in nutrient-rich water solutions, as in hydroponics, which is also referred to as soilless culture.
Q3. What is chlorosis?
Chlorosis is a plant disorder in which leaves turn yellow due to insufficient chlorophyll production. It usually occurs because of mineral nutrient deficiencies, poor soil drainage, damaged roots, or lack of light.
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