05.

Forms of nutrients in soil and their functions in plants

Learning objective :

To know the functions of each nutrient in plant

Primary or major nutrients: are those nutrients required relatively in large quantities by the plants for
its growth and development. Ex: N, P and K.

Secondary nutrients: are those nutrients which are required by plants in moderate amounts and
given secondary importance in its supply and management.

Ex: Ca, Mg and S.

Micronutrients: The nutrients which are utilized by plants in relatively smaller quantities for their
growth and development, but these are equally important & essential to plants as macronutrients.

Ex: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl and Ni.

Plant Nutrients
Sixteen elements are considered essential for plants. They are grouped based on their
relative abundance in plants.

Many non-essential elements are also found in plants that account for over 60
elements. Al is absorbed when soil solution is rich in Al ions. When plant materials is
burned, the remaining plant ash contains all the essential and non-essential elements
except C, H, O, N, S. Macro nutrients are absorbed in 30-100 times in proportion to that of
micronutrients.
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Essential Nutrients  

Macronutrients Micronutrients
Non-
mineral
Primar
Nutrients Secondary By all plants Some
y
 C N Ca Fe B Na

H P Mg Mn Cl Co

O K S Zn Mo Va

Cu Ni

Si

Chemical nature

Metals K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu,

Non-metals C, H, O, N, P, S, Cl

The plant content of mineral elements is affected by many factors and their
concentration in crops varies considerably.

Relative Concentration
Nutrient concentration
(%)
(Times)

Primary N, K 400-1000 1-1.5

P 30 0.1-0.3

Secondar Ca, Mg 0.2-0.5

100-200
y

S 30 0.1

Micro Fe, Mn, B 1-2 0.002-0.01

Others <1 <0.002

2
Plant Nutrients

Concentration, Mobility, forms, functions

A mineral element is considered essential to plant growth and development if the element
is involved in plant metabolic functions and the plant cannot complete its life cycle without the
element. Terms commonly used to describe level of nutrients in plants are

Deficient
When the concentration of an essential element is low enough to limit yield severely and distinct
deficiency symptoms are visible then that element is said to be deficient. Extreme deficiencies
can result in plant death. With moderate or slight deficiencies, symptoms may not be visible, but
yields will still be reduced.

Critical range
The nutrient concentration in the plant below which a yield response to added nutrient occurs.
Critical level or ranges vary among plants and nutrients but occur somewhere in the transition
between nutrient deficiency and sufficiency.

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Critical range
 
Sufficient

Transition

PLANT YIELD  
Excessive

Deficient or toxic

Steenberg effect

NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION IN TISSUE

Sufficient
Concentration range in which added nutrients will not increase yield but can increase nutrient
concentration. The term luxury consumption is used to describe nutrient absorption by the plant
that does not influence yield.

Excessive or toxic
When the concentration of essential or other elements is high enough to reduce plant growth and
yield then it is said to be toxic. Excessive nutrient concentration can cause an imbalance in other
essential nutrients, which also can reduce yield

Forms of nutrients for

Plant absorption
Concentration and plants yield
+ -
N NH4 , NO3 , organic N

H2PO4- (Primary) and HPO42-

P Yield is severely affected when a nutrient
(Secondary) Orthophosphates
is deficient. When deficiency is corrected, growth
+
K K increases more rapidly. Under severe deficiency,

Ca Ca++ rapid increase in growth with added nutrient can

cause a small decrease in nutrient concentration
Mg Mg++
due to dilution effect. This is called the
- -
S SO3 (Sulphite) and SO4 Steenberg effect

Fe Fe++ (Ferrous), Fe+++ (Ferric)

Mn++ (Manganous) and Mn+++

Mn
(Manganic)
1 (2/8)
++ Luxury consumption
Zn Zn
 
+ ++
Cu (Cuprous) and Cu
Cu
(Cupric)
Nutrient sufficiency occurs over a wide
-
B BO3 and other forms concentration range, wherein yield is unaffected.

Mo MoO4-- (Molybdate) Increase in nutrient concentration above the

critical range indicates that the plant is absorbing
Cl Cl-
nutrient above that needed for maximum yield.
This luxury consumption is common in most plants. Elements absorbed in excessive quantities
can reduce plant yield directly through toxicity or indirectly by reducing concentration of other
nutrient below critical ranges.

Functions of nutrients in plants:

Nutrient Functions
Major nutrients
Nitrogen Basic component of proteins and chlorophyll (the
pigment that gives plants their green colour). Plays
an essential role in plant growth. Also feeds
microorganisms in the soil
Phosphorus Plays an important role in root growth and promotes
the establishment of young plants, flowering, fruiting
and ripening, photosynthesis, respiration and overall
plant growth.
Potassium Moves through the plant. Promotes the movement
of sugars, turgor and stem rigidity. Also increases
the plant’s overall resistance to cold, diseases,
insect pests, etc. Promotes the formation of flower
buds, the hardening-off of woody plants and fruiting.

Secondary nutrients
Calcium Plays a vital role in plant structure, because it is part
of cell walls and holds them together. Promotes the
development of the root system and the ripening of
fruit and seeds. Found in the growing parts of plants
(apex and buds).

Magnesium An important part of chlorophyll. Helps fruit ripen

and seeds germinate. Reinforces cell walls and
promotes the absorption of phosphorous, nitrogen
and sulphur by plants

Sulphur A component of several proteins, enzymes and

vitamins. Contributes to chlorophyll production.
Helps plants absorb potassium, calcium and
magnesium.

Micronutrients
Iron Essential to chlorophyll production. Also
contributes to the formation of some enzymes and
amino acids.

Boron Essential to overall plant health and tissue growth.

Promotes the formation of fruit and the absorption
of water.

Manganese Promotes seed germination and speeds plant

maturity. Plays an important role in photosynthesis
by contributing to chlorophyll production. Essential
for nitrogen assimilation and protein formation.

Molybdenum Essential for nitrogen assimilation by plants and

nitrogen fixation by bacteria. This means that it is
needed for the production of nitrogen-based
proteins.

Chlorine Stimulates photosynthesis.

Copper Activates various enzymes. Also plays a role in

chlorophyll production
Zinc Plays an important role in the synthesis of proteins,
enzymes and growth hormones.

Nickel Key component of selected enzymes involved in N

metabolism and biological N fixation.
Beneficial elements
Silicon Strengthens cell walls, energy transfer & drought
resistance Reduces water loss &
prevents fungal infection.
Cobalt Essential in N fixation
Sodium Na replaces K in certain functions in halophytes
plants

For C4 plants having dicarboxylic photosynthetic

pathway

Vanadium Essential for green algae

Forms of elements in Mineral soil

Macro elements are available in (1) Solid (2) Cations (3) Cations in soil solution

Nutrients Mineral / solid Cations Soil solution as ions

N Organic compounds and Amino acids NH4+ NH4+, NO2-, NO3-

P Organic compounds, nucleic acid and - H2PO4-, HPO4-

inorganic compounds. Ca, Fe, Al, PO4’s

K Feldspar, mica, silicate clays K+ K+

Ca Feldspar, hornblende, lime stone Ca2+ Ca2+

Mg Mica, Hornblende, lime stone Mg2+ Mg2+

S Organic sources – protein, amino acids - HSO4-, SO32-

inorganic sources – Gypsum, pyrites . - SO42-

Forms of nutrient element absorbed by plants

Nutrient element Forms absorbed

C Mainly through leaves - CO2

H HOH (Hydrogen from H2O) – H+

O CO2 mainly through leaves – O42-, ,OH-, CO32-

N NH4+, NO3

K K+

Ca Ca2+

Mg Mg2+

S SO42-

Fe Fe2+ (Ferrous), Fe3+ (ferric)

Mn Mn2+ (Manganous), Mn4+ (Manganic)

Zn Zn2+

Cu Cu+ (cuprous), Cu2+ (Cupric)

Co CO2+

Na Na+

Si Si (OH)4

Cl Cl-

B H3BO3 (Boric acid) H2 BO3- (Borate)

Mo Mo O42-
References:
Tisdale,S.L.,Nelson,W.L.,Beaton,J.D.,Havlin,J.L.1997.Soil fertility and Fertilizers.Fifth edition,
Prentice hall of India Pvt.Ltd,New Delhi.

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/pnm3. From:J. A. Silva and R. Uchida, eds. College of

Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, ©2000

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1191

Questions to ponder

1)How will you differentiate between N and K deficiencies of corn visually?

2) What is luxury consumption?
3)Which element is absorbed both in anionic and cationic forms?
4) Which element is specifically involved in nitrate reduction in plants?
5)Name the nutrients whos deficiencies are first exhibited in the apical region of the growing plant?