Macronutrients

Error! Post not found for word:micronutrients are those elements essential for plant growth which are needed in only very small (micro) quantities . These elements are sometimes called minor elements or trace elements, but use of the term Error! Post not found for word:micronutrient is encouraged by the American Society of Error! Post not found for word:agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. The Error! Post not found for word:micronutrients are boron (B), Error! Post not found for word:copper \(cu\), Error! Post not found for word:iron \(fe\), chloride (Cl), Error! Post not found for word:manganese \(mn\), Error! Post not found for word:molybdenum \(mo\) and Error! Post not found for word:zinc \(zn\). Recycling Error! Post not found for word:Error! Post not found for word:organic matter such as grass clippings and tree leaves is an excellent way of providing Error! Post not found for word:micronutrients (as well as Error! Post not found for word:macronutrients) to growing plants.

Nitrogen (N)

  • Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy.
  • Nitrogen is a part of Error! Post not found for word:chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant that is responsible for Error! Post not found for word:photosynthesis.
  • Helps plants with rapid growth, increasing Error! Post not found for word:seed and Error! Post not found for word:fruit production and improving the quality of leaf and forage crops.
  • Nitrogen often comes from Error! Post not found for word:fertilizer application and from the air (legumes get their N from the atmosphere, water or rainfall contributes very little nitrogen)

Phosphorus (P)

  • Like nitrogen, Error! Post not found for word:Error! Post not found for word:phosphorus \(p\) is an essential part of the process of Error! Post not found for word:photosynthesis.
  • Involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc.
  • Helps with the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy; proper plant maturation; withstanding stress.
  • Effects rapid growth.
  • Encourages Error! Post not found for word:blooming and root growth.
  • Error! Post not found for word:phosphorus often comes from Error! Post not found for word:fertilizer, bone meal, and superphosphate.

Potassium (K)

  • Error! Post not found for word:potassium is absorbed by plants in larger amounts than any other mineral element except nitrogen and, in some cases, Error! Post not found for word:calcium.
  • Helps in the building of protein, Error! Post not found for word:photosynthesis, Error! Post not found for word:fruit quality and reduction of diseases.
  • Error! Post not found for word:potassium is supplied to plants by soil minerals, Error! Post not found for word:organic materials, and Error! Post not found for word:fertilizer.

Calcium (Ca)

  • Error! Post not found for word:calcium, an essential part of plant Error! Post not found for word:cell wall structure, provides for normal transport and retention of other elements as well as strength in the plant. It is also thought to counteract the effect of alkali salts and Error! Post not found for word:organic acids within a plant.
  • Sources of Error! Post not found for word:calcium are dolomitic Error! Post not found for word:lime, gypsum, and superphosphate.

Magnesium (Mg)

  • Error! Post not found for word:magnesium is part of the Error! Post not found for word:chlorophyll in all green plants and essential for Error! Post not found for word:photosynthesis. It also helps activate many plant enzymes needed for growth.
  • Soil minerals, Error! Post not found for word:organic material, fertilizers, and dolomitic limestone are sources of Error! Post not found for word:magnesium for plants.

Sulfur (S)

  • Essential plant food for production of protein.
  • Promotes activity and development of enzymes and vitamins.
  • Helps in Error! Post not found for word:chlorophyll formation.
  • Improves root growth and Error! Post not found for word:seed production.
  • Helps with vigorous plant growth and Error! Post not found for word:resistance to cold.
  • Error! Post not found for word:sulfur may be supplied to the soil from rainwater. It is also added in some fertilizers as an impurity, especially the lower grade fertilizers. The use of gypsum also increases soil Error! Post not found for word:sulfur levels.