Micro and Macronutrients, Soil and Nutrients Management

A farmer should know the essential mineral elements and how they affect the following :-

• Plant growth

• Their deficiency symptoms

• Methods for preventing or correcting deficiencies.

I'm Tapsendra Patel and in this article, we will discuss about :-

• Soil

• Micro and Macronutrients

• pH and its importance to the soil

Soil

It is commonly thought of as that portion of the earth surface derived from rock and in some cases containing organic remains which living organisms are associated.

Weathering breaks rocks into smaller particles by the processes of physical disintegration and chemical decomposition. The resulting changed physical and chemical characteristics of the rock make it capable of supporting the growth of plants.

The nature of a soil is dependent upon the rocks from which it was derived, but is also dependent upon the length of time and intensity of the

•Chemical

•Physical

•Biological forces that have acted upon it.

The soil in turn is the source of the essential mineral elements for plant growth.

The essential mineral elements, often referred to as plant nutrients,

Divided into two groups :-

The major or Macronutrients include the elements :-

• Nitrogen

• Phosphorus

• Potassium

• Calcium

• Magnesium

• Sulfur

The second group is called the Micronutrients because they are needed in very small quantities. They are also known as the Trace or Minor elements.

They include :-

• Boron

• Copper

• Iron

• Manganese

• Molybdenum

• Zinc

• Chlorine.

Nitrogen (N )

Nitrogen as a constituent of protein, is involved in all the physiological processes which are taking place in plants.

A deficiency of nitrogen is expressed in Woody plants as a decrease in vigor and a foliage color that is light green to yellow (chlorotic) and the older leaves express the symptoms first.

An excess of nitrogen can result in excessive vegetative growth and decreased flowering and fruiting. An excess of nitrogen may also leads to various pathological and physiological disorders, such as Fire blight and weakgrowth.

Phosphorus (P)

Phosphorus is needed for root development, flowering, and fruit formation. It is found in large quantities in meristematic tissue and is essential for cell division.

A phosphorus deficiency ultimately results in stunted growth. Early indication of inadequate phosphorus within many species of plants is the development of bronze or purple coloration of the petioles on the underside of the leaves, followed by a yellowing of the leaves at the time of flowering and fruiting.

Potassium (K)

Although not an integral part of the plant tissue, but it is important for plants.

It modifies the absorption of other nutrient elements > influences the carbohydrate-nitrogen relationship > and is thought to influence the absorption and utilization of water > which in turn affects the drought and possibly the cold-temperature resistance of plants.

A lack of potassium in broad-leaved plants is first explained by a marginal yellowing of the older leaves, followed by scorching and leaf drop. In needle-leaved plants, a deficiency is indicated by an apical brown tip separated from a green basil portion by a yellow band.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is one of the primary elements in the development of woody plants. It is a constituent of the cell walls and it modifies the permeability of membranes and is important for development of roots. Because calcium is relatively immobile within the plant.

Deficiency symptoms are exhibited first in the apical portions. While calcium deficiency is not common in the plants, it is manifested by death of the terminal portions, yellowing and necrosis of the adjacent young tissues. This is more commonly associated with seedlings than with mature plants.

Magnesium (Mg)

Magnesium is an integral part of chlorophyll, the green pigments in plants, making it essential for photosynthesis. Certain enzyme systems and respiration do not function properly at low magnesium levels. Some form of chlorosis in older leaves is resulted with a magnesium deficiency, but the expression varies considerably with the species. In advanced stages of magnesium deficiency shoots become devoid of leaves except for a few at the tip.

Sulfur (S)

Sulfur is a constituent of protein and various volatile compounds. When sulfur is deficient, plants are stunted and the leaves are light green or yellow, starting with the young leaves and progressing to the older leaves. Growth is restricted and stems are thin. However, sulfur deficiency has not been a problem in the production of nursery crops. Perhaps this is due to its presence in most complete fertilizers as a contaminant and in various forms of nitrogen. It is also an air pollutant in industrial areas.

Iron (Fe)

Iron is a catalyst in chlorophyll formation and for oxidation-reduction reactions. Its availability in the soil decreases with high pH, high phosphates, or high concentrations of heavy metals or carbonates. Young leaves exhibit an interveinal chlorosis with the veins remaining green. Woody perennials exhibit dieback of branches if exposed to iron deficiencies for extended periods of time.

Manganese (Mn)

Mn is needed for assimilation of carbon dioxide in nitrogen metabolism and for the formation of organic acids and carotene. It may be deficient in soils of high pH. The deficiency symptoms are similar to those for iron. Early symptoms of manganese toxicity are chlorotic leaves, premature defoliation, and suppress growth with smooth- raised pimples underlain by small dark-brown spots in the young bark.

Zinc (Zn)

Zn functions in cell elongation and in seed development. Zinc deficiency, although uncommon in wood ornamentals, produces a yellow to bronze color in older foliage. The leaves are narrow with a wavy margin. Dieback of shoots can occur where the deficiency is acute.

Boron (B)

Boron aids in proper root development, flowering, and fruiting and is necessary for nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism. The application of excess lime may induce boron deficiency, which is more common in sandy soils than in clays. Death of the growing points, curled, and often rosetted leaves are symptoms sometimes associated with boron deficiency in field-production nurseries.

Copper (Cu)

Cu is a catalyst in respiration and is needed for carbohydrate and protein metabolism and in seed formation. Although copper deficiency is not too common in woody perennials, it has been reported in young fruit. In fruit trees, deficiency is expressed by a withering and death of young shoots in the late spring or early summer.

Molybdenum (Mo)

Mo is needed for protein synthesis, but is needed in minute quantities that it seldom limits growth of woody plants. An initial diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies can often be done through visual symptoms.

The macronutrients are readily available within a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0, but the micronutrients favor more acidic conditions and their availability declines as the pH increases. The most favorable soil reaction for the growth of most woody plants is between a pH of 5.5 and 7.5. Within this range, the essential mineral elements are readily available and the microorganisms of the soil carry on their beneficial functions. However, some species of plants grow best under acid condition whereas others under more alkaline conditions. Farmers should be familiar with the optimum range for their crops and select sites accordingly for their production.

One of the interesting phenomena of nature is the ability of soil to adsorb various mineral nutrients from fertilizers and then later to release them to be absorbed by plants for use in their metabolism. The ability of soil to hold certain minerals is known as Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC).

Organic matter can hold both cations and anions, such as phosphate, nitrate, and sulfate.

Nutrient element balance is a fundamental concept in plant nutrition. Maximum growth and yield occurs only when optimum nutrient intensity and balance are obtained.

A good soil-testing program is necessary for growers to make sound soil management decisions for maintaining adequate pH levels and a reasonable balance of nutrients.

In conclusion, hopefully we learned about the types of nutrients and their deficiency symptoms, the importance of pH, and testing for nutrients.

- TAPSENDRA PATEL

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