MACRONUTRIENTS
Replace macronutrients in soils
regularly (at least once per growing
season)
Calcium (Ca)
Functions of Calcium:
 Structural component of the cell
membrane.
 Counter-ion in the vacuole.
Factors affecting calcium availability
include:
 pH- calcium is less available in
acidic soils and more available in
alkaline soils.
 Moisture - a lack of water in the
soil prevents the uptake of
calcium by plants.
 Temperature – plants are less
able to take up calcium when the
soil is cold.
Calcium Deficiency: New leaves (top
of plant) are distorted or irregularly
shaped. Causes blossom-end rot.
Example of Plants that are mostly
affected by Calcium Deficiency:
 Tomatoes
 Squashes
 Melons
Nitrogen (N)
Functions of Nitrogen:
 General plant growth of roots,
stem, leaf, flowers and fruits.
 Chlorophyll synthesis.
 main component of the compound
chlorophyll (nitrogen is a component
in it that aids in enhancing its
features)
 Healthy plants often contain 3 to 4%
nitrogen in their above-ground
tissues
 essential to plant processes such as
photosynthesis (plants with sufficient
nitrogen will have experiences high
rates of photosynthesis and typically
exhibits vigorous plant growth and
development)
 essential element of the amino acids
in plant structures which are the
building blocks of plant proteins
(important in the growth and
development of vital plant tissues
and cells like the cell membranes
and chlorophyll)
  Component of nucleic acid that
forms DNA a genetic material
(significant in the transfer of certain
crop traits and characteristics that
aid in the plant survival)

Nitrogen Deficiency: General yellowing

of older leaves (bottom of plant). The
rest of the plant is often light green.

Phosphorus (P)
Functions of Phosphorus:
 Energy transferring process for
photosynthesis and respiration
(ADP-ATP synthesis).
 Structural component of
phospholipids, nucleic acids,
coenzymes, and nucleotides.
Magnesium (Mg)  essential for the general health and
vigor of all plants.
Functions of Magnesium:  Plants must have phosphorus for
 Chlorophyll synthesis normal growth and development

 Cofactor in activation of ATPase

Some specific growth factors that have
 Involved in chlorophyll synthesis;
associated with phosphorus are:
cofactor in activation of ATPase
-required to capture sun energy
for photosynthesis
 Used by plants for the
metabolism of carbohydrates and
in the cell membrane
stabilization.
Magnesium Deficiency: Older leaves
turn yellow at edge leaving a green
arrowhead shape in the center of the
leaf.
 stimulated growth development
 increase stalk and stem strength
 improved flower formation and seed
production
 more uniform and crop maturity
 increased nitrogen N-fixing capacity
of legumes
 improvements in crop quality
 increased resistance to plant
diseases
 support development throughout
entire life cycle
 the visual symptoms of phosphorus
deficiency are:
 plant is short and dark green
 in extreme deficiencies, turns into
brown or black
  bronze color under the leaf

Phosphorus Deficiency: Leaf tips look

burnt, followed by older leaves turning a
dark green or reddish-purple.

Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H),

Oxygen (O)
Functions of Carbon, Hydrogen, and
Oxygen:
 Major constituent of organic plant
material.
 Assimilation of oxidation-
Potassium (K) reduction root development.
Functions of Potassium:
Sulfur (S)
 Cell extension and stomatal
regulation. Functions of Sulfur:
 Enzyme activation (kinase, starch  Assimilation of oxidation-
synthase, and nitrate reductase) reduction reactions.
 Photosynthetic activity (e.g., CO2  Participates in various enzymatic
fixation and pH regulation). processes.
 regulates the opening and closing of  helps form important enzymes
stomata (therefore regulates CO2
uptake)  assists in the formation of plant
 triggers activation of enzymes and proteins.
essential for production of
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)  also acts as a soil conditioner
 plays a major role in the regulation and helps reduce the sodium
of water in plants (osmo-regulation) content of soils.

Potassium Deficiency: Older leaves Sulfur Deficiency: Younger leaves turn

may wilt, look scorched. Interveinal yellow first, sometimes followed by older
chlorosis begins at the base, scorching leaves.
inward from leaf margins.
 inhibit the uptake of boron by
plants.
 Nitrogen - severe nitrogen
deficiency may reduce a plant’s
ability to uptake boron.
Boron Deficiency: Terminal buds die,
witches’ brooms form.

MICRONUTRIENTS
Replace when deficiency symptoms
are evident.

Boron (B)
Functions of Boron:
 Cell wall synthesis
 Enzymatic reactions and
metabolic pathways; mitotic
activity for root development.
Factors affecting calcium availability
include:
 pH – boron is less available in
moderately alkaline soil and more
available in acidic soil.
 Water – high rainfall and excess
irrigation can leach boron from
the soil.
 Organic matter – organic matter Copper (Cu)
provides boron as it breaks down
and also improves the ability of Functions of Copper:
soil to hold boron.  Co-factir for metalloproteins and
enzymes.
 Moisture – low levels of soil  Photosynthetic electron transport.
moisture inhibit the uptake of  Cell wall metabolism and
boron. hormone signalling.
 Oxidation stress response.
 Calcium – some research
Copper Deficiency: Leaves are dark
indicates that excess calcium can green, plant is stunted.
Iron (Fe)
Functions of Iron:
 Regulatory component of
proteins and metabolites in roots
and leaves.
 Comes from dirt, ferric oxide is a
chemical present in dirt that gives
soil it's distinctive red color.
 Plants absorb iron from ferric
oxide
 Regulatory component of
proteins and metabolites in roots
and leaves.
 Helps plants move oxygen
through its system; involved in
chlorophyll production.
 Plants that have iron deficiency
have leaves with a sickly yellow
color and green veins.
Iron Deficiency: Yellowing occurs
between the veins of young leaves.
Nickel
Functions of Nickel:
 important to seed germination
and contributes to nitrogen
fixation
 Endosperm development and
dehydrogenase activity, urease
activation for area breakdown
and root nodule growth.
Nickel Deficiency: Nickel deficiency
will display visual symptoms typically in
the old leaves of the plants as nickel is a
mobile element. Symptoms include
chlorosis and interveinal chlorosis in
young leaves that progress to plant
tissue necrosis. Other symptoms include
poor seed germination and decreased
crop yield.
 Molybdenum Deficiecy: General
yellowing of older leaves (bottom of
Manganese (Mn) plant). The rest of the plant is often light
green.
Functions of Manganese:
 Photodestruction of chlorophyll
and chloroplast structure.
 Enzyme activator.
 Precursor of amino acids,
hormones (auxins) and liquid.
 Involved in photosynthesis,
respiration and nitrogen
assimilation.
 Deficiency is similar to iron's;
plant growth may be reduced and Zinc (Zn)
stunted. Functions of Zinc:
 Enzymatic function and reactivity,
Manganese Deficiency: Yellowing stem elongation.
occurs between the veins of young  Protein and starch synthesis.
leaves. Pattern is not as distinct as with  helps the plant produce
iron. Palm fronds are stunted and chlorophyll
deformed, called "frizzle top." Reduction
in size of plant parts (leaves, shoots,  activates enzymes that are
fruit) generally. Dead spots or patches. responsible for the synthesis of
certain proteins
 essential in the formation of
auxins, which helps with growth
regulation and stem elongation

Zinc Deficiency: Terminal leaves may

Molybdenum (Mo) be rosette, and yellowing occurs
Functions of Molybdenum: between the veins of the new leaves.
 Enzyme activation (e.g., nitrate
reductase, catalase, and
ribonucleic).
 Chlorophyll synthesis.
 Essential component in two
enzymes that convert nitrate into
nitrite.