All essential elements are by definition required for plant growth and completion of the plant life cycle from seed to seed. Some essential elements are needed in large quantities and others in much smaller quantities. However, from a practical standpoint, three of the six essential macronutrients are most often “managed” by the addition of fertilizers to soils, while the others are most often found in sufficient quantities in most soils and no soil amendments are required to supply adequate supplies.
The Structural elements are (the first three) carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) are known as structural elements and are present in the atmosphere and growing environment.
The primary macro-nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These macronutrients usually are insufficient in the soil because the plants absorb so much of it for their growth.
The secondary macro-nutrients are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S). Plants absorb a suitable amount of these macro-nutrients from the soil so soil fertilization is not needed.
Macronutrients include:
- Carbon (C) Structural elements
- Hydrogen (H) Structural elements
- Oxygen (O) Structural elements
- Nitrogen (N) Primary Nutrient
- Phosphorus (P) Primary Nutrient
- Potassium (K) Primary Nutrient
- Calcium (Ca) Secondary Nutrient
- Magnesium (Mg) Secondary Nutrients
- Sulfur (S) Secondary Nutrients