BASIC

PLANT NUTRITION
 BASIC PLANT NUTRITION

1.Factors affecting plant growth

2.Response of plants to nutrients
3.The essential elements
4.Function of nutrients and deficiency symptoms
 GENETIC

ENVIRONMENT

SOIL TEMP.
PLANT
GROWTH

SOLAR WATER
ENERGY
BIOTIC
CROP FACTORS CLIMATE FACTORS

PLANT GROWTH FACTORS

EFFECTS AND INTERACTION OF
GROWTH FACTORS
Temperature
 temperature range for agricultural
crops; 15ºC – 40ºC
 temperature effects: photosynthesis,
respiration, cell wall permeability,
absorption of water and nutrients,
transpiration, enzyme activity, protein
coagulation
 optimum temperature is lower for
photosynthesis than for respiration

 increasing temperatures (0ºC - 60ºC)

increase absorption of water, nutrients
and activity of soil organisms
Moisture supply
 water is needed to manufacture
carbohydrates, maintain hydration of
protoplasm, and for translocation of
carbohydrates and nutrients.

 low moisture level impairs nutrient

absorption thru its effect on mass flow,
diffusion and root interception.

 excess water impairs nutrient

absorption due to respiration caused
by lack of O2
Solar Energy

 most plants grow best in full

sunlight. Some are shade tolerant
(e.g. black pepper, cacao)

 high density plant cause shading

 less shading in plants with more

erect leaves
Soil properties
 physical (texture, structure, bulk
density, porosity, water holding
capacity, hydraulic conductivity)

 chemical (pH, CEC, base saturation,

salinity, toxic elements)

 biological (OM content and kind and

amount of microbial population)

 soil fertility or supply of nutrients

LIEBIG’S LAW OF MINIMUM
“By the deficiency or absence
of one necessary constituent all
others being present, the soil is
rendered barren for all those
crops to the life of which that
one constituent is
indispensable.”
Or: “Plant growth is limited by
that nutrient present below the
minimum requirement.”
MITSCHERLICH’S EQUATION
In 1909, Mitscherlich developed an equation
relating growth to the supply of plant nutrients. He
observed that if plants were supplied with adequate
amounts of all nutrients save one, their growth was
proportional to the amount of this limiting element which
was added to the soil. Plant growth increased as more
of the element was added, but growth was not directly
proportional to the amount of the growth factor added.
He observed that the total increase in growth became
less as increments of the growth factor were increased.
 dy
dx = (A – y) c
Where:
dx = an increment of the growth factor; X1, X2, X3, or Xn

dy = the increase in yield due to an increment of the

growth factor dx

A = the maximum yield possible obtained by supplying all

growth factors in optimum amounts

y = yield obtained after any given quantity of the factor x

has been applied

c = a proportionally constant which depends on the nature

of the growth factor
 DY
= (A – Y) c
100 DX

DY = increase in yield
% of Y3
DX = increase in input
maximum Y2
yield A = maximum possible yield

Y1
Y = actual yield
C = constant depending on
nature of x (whether N, P,
K etc.)
1 2 3 4

Units of input X

MITSCHERLICH’S EQUATION
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Soil fertility – the ability of the soil to supply

essential nutrients to plants in
sufficient and balanced amount.
Soil productivity – the ability of the soil to
produce desired quantities of
plant yield.
Plant nutrition – the supply and absorption of
chemical elements or
compounds required by the plant.
Nutrients – chemical elements or compounds
required by plants for normal growth.
Metabolic processes – are mechanisms by
which elements are converted to
cellular materials or as sources of
energy, or to drive reactions.
Ionic forms of nutrients that are available for plant use:
Elements Available Form
1. Carbon (C) CO2
2. Hydrogen (H) H2O, H2
3. Oxygen (O) O2
4. Nitrogen (N) NH4+, NO3-
5. Phosphorus (P) H2PO4-,HPO4=, PO4=
6. Potassium (K) K+
7. Calcium (Ca) Ca++
8. Magnesium (Mg) Mg++
9. Sulfur (S) SO4=
10. Iron (Fe) Fe++
11. Manganese (Mn) Mn++
12. Zinc (Zn) Zn++
13. Copper (Cu) Cu++
14. Boron (B) BO3=
15. Molybdenum (Mo) MoO4=
16. Chlorine (Cl) Cl -
MACROELEMENTS: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, sulfur

MACRO – absorbed by plants in large amounts

Microelements: iron, managanese, boron,
molybdenum, copper, zinc, chlorine

MICRO – absorbed by plants in a small amounts

1.Criteria of essentiality
A chemical element is essential to
plant growth if the element is involved in
metabolic processes and the plant cannot
complete its life cycle if the element is
lacking or absent.

2.Order of relative concentration of

nutrient element in plants:
H (60,000 or 6%) > 0 > C > N > K > Ca >
Mg > P > S > Cl > Fe > B > Mn > Zn > Cu
> Mo (1 or 0.1 ppm)
3.Functions of nutrient elements in
plants
a. Nitrogen

1. Constituent of amino acids, proteins

and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)
2. Integral part of chlorophyll molecule
3. Associated with high photosynthetic
activity, vigorous vegetative growth,
dark green color of leaves and
succulence of tissues.
 CHLOROPHYLL A MOLECULE
(Mg is bound to the N atoms of the porphyrin structure
by 2 valence and 2 coordinate bonds)
b. Phosphorus
1. Energy storage and transfer through ATP –
ADP conversion
2. Structural component of nucleic acids,
coenzymes, nucleotides, phosphoproteins,
phospholipids and sugar phosphates
3. As constituent of ATP, P is involved in
metabolic processes such as
photosynthesis, respiration, synthesis of
proteins, phospholipids, nucleic acids,
lipids, cellulose, hemicellulose, ligmin,
pectin etc.
4. Important in seed formation and
development of reproductive parts of
plants
5. Associated with increased root growth,
early maturity particularly grain
development.
c. Potassium
1. Enzyme activator.
2. Regulates osmotic pressure in roots.
3. Maintains turgor pressure of guard cells
and regulates opening of stomata, thus
controlling photosynthesis and
transpiration.
4. Needed in ATP synthesis which is used
in translocation of sugars from leaves, N
uptake and protein synthesis.
5. Strengthens straw of grain crops and
prolongs the life of the flag leaf.
6. Increases pest and disease resistance.
d. Calcium
1. Enhances NO3 – N uptake and
regulates cation uptake
2. Essential for cell elongation and
division
3. Ca – pectate in cell wall
e. Magnesium
1. Constituent of chlorophyll molecule
2. Structural component in ribosome
which are associated with protein
synthesis
3. Associated with energy transfer
reactions from AP in metabolic
processes like photosynthesis,
glycolysis,TCA cycle (or citric acid or
krebs cycle), and respiration
f. Sulfur
1. Needed in synthesis of S – containing
amino acids, such as cystine, cysteine and
methionine.
2. Needed in synthesis of coenzyme A,
biotin, thiamin (or vitamin B1) and
glutathione.
3. Component of substances like S-
adenosylmethionine, formylmethionine,
lipoic acid and sulfolipid.
4. Required for synthesis of chlorophyll .
5. Vital part of ferrodoxin, a Fe S protein found
in chloroplasts which participates in
oxidation-reduction processes by
transferring electrons, e.g., nitrite reduction,
sulfate reduction, and assimilation of N2 by
module bacteria.
6. Occurs in volatile compounds responsible for
the characteristic taste and smell of mustard
and onion.
7. Enhances oil formation in flax and soybeans.
8. Improves quality of forage by narrowing N/S
ratio.
 Micronutrient
Role in Plants
Elements

Boron (B) Somewhat uncertain, but believed

important in sugar translocation and
carbohydrate metabolism

Iron (Fe) Chlorophyll synthesis and in enzymes

for electron transfer

Manganese (Mn) Controls several oxidation-reduction

systems, formation of O2 in
photosynthesis

Copper (Cu) Catalyst for respiration, enzyme

constituent

Zinc (Zn) In enzyme systems that regulate

various metabolic activities
Continuation…

Micronutrient
Role in Plants
Elements
Zinc (Zn) In enzyme systems that regulate
various metabolic activities

Molybdenum (Mo) In nitrogenase needed for nitrogen

fixation
Cobalt (Co)
Essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation
Chlorine (Cl)
Activates system for production of O2 in
photosynthesis
THE END