Nutrients are the essential components of plant growth and development. Plant doesn’t complete its life-cycle without the aid of nutrients. Any deficiency in those nutrients causes identifiable symptoms resulting in disease or plant death and their optimal quantity ensures the maximal plant benefits and upgrades soil fertility.
In general, nutrient components are present as dissolved salts in soil. They are absorbed by the plant root in their basic form (ions). Irrespective of the feed form, the plant only intakes nutrients in its elemental or ionic form.
The rate of absorption of nutrients into plants is determined by the pH of the soil. The precise pH level tells the acute nutrients in soil. Soil amendment is proven to be beneficial in this regard.
Here are the few necessary nutrients and their role in the plant grow life:
Air Source
Carbon (C)
necessary for photosynthesis.
Hydrogen (H)
constituent of plant food (carbohydrate).
Oxygen (O)
necessary for cell respiration.
Nitrogen (N)
affect growth and yield.
Soil Source
Phosphorus (P)
important in energy transfer.
Potassium (K)
involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate translocation and protein synthesis.
Calcium (Ca)
plays a major role in the permeability and structure of membranes.
Sulphur (S)
important component of plant proteins.
Magnesium (Mg)
enzyme activator.
Iron (Fe)
involved in chlorophyll synthesis and enzymes for electron transfer.
Manganese (Mn)
controls several oxidation-reduction systems and photosynthesis.
Boron (B)
sugar translocation and carbohydrate metabolism.
Chlorine (Cl)
oxygen production in photosynthesis.
Zinc (Zn)
regulates overall metabolic activities.
Copper (Cu)
component of various enzymes.
Molybdenum (Mo)
transforming nitrate to ammonium.
Nickel (Ni)
necessary in germination of seeds.