in this slide description about essential nutrients for Plant their suitable physiological activities in soil & water .

1. B H O L E S H A N K A R P A I K A R A
M . S C . ( A G . )
P R E V I O U S Y E A R
D E P A R T M E N T O F S O I L S C I E N C E A N D
A G R I C U L T U R E C H E M I S T R Y
I N D I R A G A N D H I K R I S H I V I S W A V I D Y A L A Y A ,
R A I P U R
C O L L E G E O F A G R I C U L T U R E
ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS,
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

2. P L A N T N U T R I T I O N I S D E F I N D S A S T H E
S U P P L Y A N D A B S O R P T I O N O F C H E M I C A L
C O M P O U N D S R E Q U I R E D F O R P L A N T
G R O W T H A N D M E T A B O L I S M . I T I S T H E
P R O C E S S O F A B S O R P T I O N A N D U T I L I Z A T I O N
O F E S S E N T I A L E L E M E N T S F O R P L A N T
G R O W T H A N D R E P R O D U C T I O N .
PLANT NUTRIENTS

3. Essential plant nutrients
The essential nutrient elements required by higher
plants are exclusively of inorganic nature. This
exclusive requirement of higher plants for inorganic
nutrients basically distinguishes these organisms
from man, animals and a. number of
microorganisms which additionally need organic
foodstuffs. For an element to be considered an
essential plant nutrient.

4. Three criteria as proposed by Arnon and Stout (1939)
must be Satisfied. These are :
 A deficiency of the element makes it
impossible for the plant to complete its life
cycle.
 The deficiency is specific for the element in
question.
 The element is directly involved in the
nutrition of the plant as for example as a
constituent of an essential metabolite or
required for the action of an enzyme system.

5. Several terms namely, deficient, insufficient,
toxic and excessive
 Deficient. When an essential element is at a low concentration that severely
limits yield and produces more or less distinct deticiency symptoms. Extreme
deficiencies will lead to death of the plant.
 Insufficient. When the level of an essential plant nutrient is below that required
for optimum yield or when there is an imbalance with another nutrient
Symptoms of this condition are rarely observed.
 Toxic. When the concentration of either essential of other elements is
sufficiently high to inhibit plant growth to a great extent. Severe toxicity will
result in death of plants.
 Excessive. When the concentration of an essential plant nutrient is sufficiently
high to result in a corresponding shortage of another nutrient.

6. TYPES OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
 * Essentials - C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe,
Mn,
Mo, Cu,Cl , B, Zn, Ni = 17
 * Nickel (Ni) is the latest (1987) addition to the list of essential nutrients .
 Primary - - N,P&K=3
 Secoundry - Ca, Mg & S=3
 Macro - N,P,K, Ca, Mg & S= 6
 Micro - Fe, Mn ,Mo ,Cu ,Cl ,Co,B,Zn=8
 Functional - Essential Elements + Co,V ,Si
,Na
 Beneficial - Ru, Sr ,Ni,Cr, As
 Energy Exchange - H, O
 Energy Storage - C, N, P, S
 Translocation regulator - Ca, Mg, K, Na
 Oxidation reduction - Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Co

7. Differents elements according to mobile and
immobile
Mobile Immobile
Nitrogen Calcium
Potassium Sulphur
Magnesium Iron
Phosphorus Boron
Chlorine Cupper
Sodium
Zinc
Molybdenum

8. FUNCTION OF ESSENTIAL PLANT
NUTRIENTS
Nutrients Functions
Carbon Basic molecular components of carbohydrates,proteins,lipids and nuclic acid.
Oxygen Oxygen is some what like carbon in that it occures in virtuailly all organic compounds of living organisms.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen plays a central role in plant metabolism. Important in ionic balance and as main reducing agent
and plays a key role in energy relations of cells.
Nitrogen Nitrogen is a components of many important organic compounds ranging from protein to nuclic acid.
Phosphorus Central role in plants is in energy transfer and protein metabolism.
Potassium
Helps in osmotic and ionic regulation. Potassium functions as a cofacter or activator for many enzymes of
carbohydrates and protein metabolisms.
Calcium Calium is involved in cell division and plays a major role in tne mantanance of mambrane intigrity.
Magnesium Component of chlorophyll and a cofactor of many enzymatic reaction.
Sulphur Sulphur is somewhat like phosphorus in that is involved in plant cell inergetic.
Iron
The latter are involved in key metabolic functions such as Nitrogen fixation , photosynthesis and electron
transfer.
Zinc
Essential components of several dyhydrogenase ,and peptidase, including carbonic anhydrase , alcohal
dehydrogenase , glutamic dehydrogenase and mallic dehydrogenase, among others.
Maganease
Involved in the oxygen evolving system of photosynthesis and is components of enzymes arginase and
phosphotransferase.
Copper
Consituents of a number of a important enzymes including cytochrom oxidize, ascorbic acid oxidize, and
laccase.
Boron Involved in carbohydarate metabollism and synthesis of cell wall components.
Molybdanum
Required for the normal assimillation of nitrogen in plants . An essential components of nitrate reductase as
well as nitrogenase (nitrogen fixation enzyme).
Chlorine
Essential for photosynthesis and as an activator of enzymes involved in spiliting water. It is also function in
osmo- regulation of plants growing on saline soils.
Nikil increasing viability and germination percentage of barlay.

9. Function of Nitrogen
1) Increasing growth and development of all
living tissue.
2) Increasing germination of crops.
3) Improve the quality.
4) It increase utilization of P and K.

10. Function of Phosphorus
1) It promote to root formation and growth.
2) Improve the quality of fruits .
3) Rhizobia by increasing nodulation .
4) Seed formation and early maturity.

11. Function of Potassium
1) It increasing in resistant in plants against
moisture stress,heat , frost and disease.
2) Improve the crop quality.
3) Lodding resistant in cereals.
4) Wilt resistant in cotton and mosaic virus resistant
in cotton.

12. Function of Calcium
1) Increasing symbiotic fixation of atmospheric
nitrogen.
2) It increasing availability of molybdenum.
Function of Magnesium
1) It is constitute of chlorophyll
2) Help in the photosynthesis of the
plants.

13. 1) Synthesis of glucosides in mustard oils.
2) Promote to nodule formation.
Function of Sulphur
1) A key role in nitrogen fixation.
2)Help in the photosynthesis.
3)Formation of chlorophyll.
Function of Iron

14. Function of Mangnease
1) Chlorophyll synthesis.
2) Development of chloroplast.
3) Increase availability of P and Ca in plants.
Function of Cooper
1) Chlorophyll formation
2) Electron transport from chlorophyll.

15. Function of Zinc
1) Role in photosynthesis.
2) It regulating of auxin concentration.
3) Flower setting and proper development of fruits.
Function of Molybdenum
1) Synthesis of protein in the plants.
2) Help in nitrogen fixation by rhizobia.
3) Increasing in availability of P and S in soil.

16. Function of Boron
1) Proper development of tissue.
2) Help in maturity .
3) Formation of cell wall.

17. ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FOR PLANT GROWTH AND THEIR
PRINCIPLE FORMS FOR UPTAKE
NUTRIENTS CHEMICAL SYMBOLS UPTAKE FORMS
•Carbon C CO2
•Hydrogen H H2O,H+
•Oxygen O H2O,O-2
•Nitrogen N NH4
+ ,NO3
-
•Phosphorus P H2PO4
-,HPO4
-2,PO4
-3
•Potassium K K+
•Calcium Ca Ca2+
•Magnesium Mg Mg2+
•Sulpher S SO4
2- , SO2
•Iron Fe Fe2+ , Fe3+
•Magnease Mn Mn2+
•Boron B H2BO3
- ,B4O7
2- ,BO3-
3
•Zinc Zn Zn2+
•Copper Cu Cu2+
•Molybdenum Mo MoO4
2-
•Chlorine Cl Cl-
•Nickel Ni Ni2+

18. ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS

19. Deficiency symptoms of nutrients
NITROGEN
N deficiency are general
chlorosis of lower leaves
(light green to yellow),
and necrosis of older
leaves
yellow discoloration from
the leaf tip backward in
the form of a “V” is common

20. Phosphorus (P)
 turn dark green (both leaves
and stems) and appear stunted .
 Older leaves are affected first and
may acquire a purplish
discoloration due to the
accumulation of sugars in P
deficient plants which favor
anthocyanin synthesis
P deficiency in cornLeaves

21. Potassium (K)
reduction in growth rate,
with chlorosis and necrosis
occurring in later stages
K deficiency
Older leaves are

23. Calcium (Ca)
Deficiency Terminal bud
leaf becomes chlorotic white
with base remains green.
.Death of terminal
buds. Deficiency causes
’Blossom end rot’ in Tomato
and Ber and ’Tip hooking
in Cauliflower’

24. Magnesium (Mg)
Deficiency Older leaves will
be yellow between veins
and veins remain green
(Interveinal chlorosis).
Also affects chlorophyll
formation.

25. Sulfur (S)
Deficiency Yellowing of
leave, leaves are paler
than interveinal portion.
Occurrence of ’Downward
cupping of leaves in
Tobacco and Tea.
S deficient wheat plant (left) has light green
leaves and stunted growth as compared to normal
wheat plant (right).

26. Boron
Deficiency Yellowing/ chlorosis
starts from base of terminal bud
leaf and extends to tip results in
appearance of ’Whip like structure’
and become brownish/ blackish brown
Deficiency causes fruit cracking
In litchi’, ’Hen and Chicken
disorder in
Grape’ and ’Heart rot in
Sugarbeet’.

28. Chlorine (Cl)
Deficiency Younger leaves
will be chlorotic and plants
Will easily wilt. For wheat,
a plant disease will infest
the plant when Cl is deficient.

29. Copper (Cu)
Deficiency Leaves including
veins become yellow and
tending towards whiteness.
Occurrence of ’Marginal
leaf burning’. Deficiency Cu deficiency in wheatmelanosis disease in
wheat
Causes ’Dia back and
Little leafdisease in Citrus

30. Iron (Fe)
Deficiency Veins remain
conspicuously green and
other leaf portion turn
yellow and tending towards
whiteness. Interveinal
chlorosis will occur.
Deficiency causes ’Leaf
bleaching in sugarcane and
’Ivory white of paddy’
Iron deficient soybean

31. Manganese (Mn)
Deficiency Interveinal yellowing
of young leaves but not
tending towards whiteness.
Veins remain green. Deficiency
causes ’Marsh disease in Pea’.

33. Molybdenum (Mo)
Deficiency Older and middle
leaves become chlorotic
first. Translucent

34. Zinc (Zn)
Deficiency Upper leaves
will show chlorosis on
midrib. Veins green and
dead spots occur in all
parts of leaf (veins, tips
and margins). Plants appear
bushy due to reduced
internodal elongation.
’White bud of Maize’.is
caused by the deficiency.