PLANT NUTRITION

Essential factors for optimum biological efficiency Favorable air and soil temperatures. Optimum available soil water and soil air. Adequate light as a source of energy for green plants to carry on photosynthesis. Essential elements for adequate nutrition of plants available when needed and supplied in balanced proportion.

Nutrition The process by which an organism obtains food which is used to provide energy and materials for its life sustaining activities Criteria for essentiality In its absence the plant is unable to complete a normal life cycle or That the element is part of some essential plant constituent or metabolite

Primary macronutrients: Nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium Secondary macronutrients calcium, sulphur, magnesium calcium, sulphur, magnesium Micronutrients or trace minerals: boron, chlorine, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and sodium. boron, chlorine, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and sodium.

Functions and deficiency symptoms of nutrients

Carbon: oBackbone of many plants biomolecules oFixed through photosynthesis oPart of the carbohydrates that store energy in the plant. Hydrogen oBuilding sugars and building the plant. oObtained entirely from water. oHelp drive the electron transport chain in photosynthesis and for respiration. Macro Nutrients

Oxygen oNecessary for cellular respiration. oPlants produce oxygen gas during photosynthesis. Phosphorus: Conversion of light energy to chemical energy (ATP) during photosynthesis. Component of cell membrane system Important for plant growth and flower/seed formation brings early maturity. Make up DNA, RNA, and phospholipids. Bronzed/raddish coloration in leaves.

leaves may appear purple from accumulation of anthocyanin. Older leaves will show the first signs of deficiency. Potassium Regulates the opening and closing of the stomata. Increases drought, frost and stress tolerance. Increases drought, frost and stress tolerance. Maintain turger pressure K+ is highly mobile and can aid in balancing the anion charges within the plant. Deficiency may cause necrosis or interveinal chlorosis. Higher risk of pathogens, wilting, chlorosis, brown spotting, and higher chances of damage from frost and heat.

Nitrogen Essential component of all proteins. nitrogen is the limiting nutrient of high growth. Essential component of all proteins. nitrogen is the limiting nutrient of high growth. The older leaves exhibit chlorosis nitrogen deficiency most often results in stunted growth, slow growth, and chlorosis. Purple color due to accumulation of anthocyanin pigments increases the utilization of P.k. Purple color due to accumulation of anthocyanin pigments increases the utilization of P.k.Sulphur Structural component of some amino acids and vitamins, essential in the manufacturing of chloroplasts. Symptoms of deficiency include yellowing of leaves and stunted growth.

Calcium Regulates transport of other nutrients into the plant Involved in the activation of certain plant enzymes. Involved in the activation of certain plant enzymes. Structural component of chromosomes. Helps in symbiotic fixation of nitrogen. deficiency results in death of terminal bud. cause of chromosomes abnormity. cause of chromosomes abnormity.Magnesium important part of chlorophyll, It is important in the production of ATP through its role as an enzyme cofactor.

deficiency can result in interveinal chlorosis. Lower leaves become purplish red. Silicon strengthens cell walls, improving plant strength, health, and productivity. include improved drought and frost resistance,

Micro nutrients Iron necessary for photosynthesis. present as an enzyme cofactor in plants. deficiency can result in interveinal chlorosis and necrosis Molybdenum Molybdenum cofactor to enzymes. important in building amino acids. important in building amino acids.

Boron important for binding cell lignifications, pectins secondary roles may be in sugar transport, cell division, synthesizing certain enzymes. Carbohydrate metabolism. Boron deficiency causes necrosis in young leaves and stunting. Copper Important for photosynthesis. Involved in many enzyme processes. Symptoms for deficiency include chlorosis.

Manganese necessary for building the chloroplasts. deficiency may result in coloration abnormalities, such as discolored spots on the foliage Sodium Involved in the regeneration of phosphoenolpyruvate in CAM and C4 plants. Substitute for potassium in some circumstances. Substitution of K by Na

Zinc Required in a large number of enzymes. plays an essential role in DNA transcription. plays an essential role in DNA transcription. Permote flower setting. Deficiency is the stunted growth of leaves, commonly known as "little leaf“. Nickel In higher plants, essential for activation of urease, Leading to the formation of necrotic lesions. Leading to the formation of necrotic lesions.

Chlorine necessary for osmosis and ionic balance also plays a role in photosynthesis.

Nutrient losses Removal by crop plants: Loss of nutrient through Erosion: Removal by Weeds: Loss of nutrients through leaching: especially in the form of anions. viz NO 3 -,SO4 -2, Cl -. More in open textured soils, 10 % of applied nitrogen is lossed through leaching.

Volatilization Loss of Nutrients: Ways : Non Biological loss of ammonia Chemical decomposition of nitrates to nitrogen oxides in acidic conditions Reaction of HNO 2 with ammonium or amino acids to produce N Microbial decomposition(N 2, N 2 O) Microbial decomposition(N 2, N 2 O)Immobilization: Microbial growth in the soil. Mineralization =C : P <200:1 Immobilization= C : P >300:1

Sources of nutrients Through crop residues. Through organic manures. Addition to the soil through Rains. Microbial fixation of atmospheric nitrogen: 1.Symbiotic nitrogen fixation 2.Azofication 3.Mycorrhiza 4.Phosphate solublizing micro-organisms. Commercial fertilizers

How much and when to apply Crop requirement. Soil test. How to apply fertilizer?? Correct time. Uniform distribution. Correct place.

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