Nitrogen is the main plant protein component and is needed in large quantities for healthy plant growth. Nitrogen deficiency can lead to root disease, reduced photosynthesis, stunted plants and reduced crop yield, while sufficient nitrogen can increase tolerance to early-season soil diseases.
Phosphorus is required for adequate cell membrane function and is crucial for a plant’s metabolic processes, including root and vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production.
Potassium is critical for cell wall water balance regulation and sugar production and transportation within the plant. Adequate potassium levels support pest and disease tolerance by enhancing stem strength.
Calcium is essential for strong cell walls within a plant, which discourages nutrient leaching. The nutrient also helps delay senescence in leaves and fruit to retain fruit. Calcium availability will depend on healthy interactions with magnesium, potassium and ammonium levels in the soil. Boron can also help the plant uptake and translocate calcium.
Magnesium is critical for chlorophyll production as it serves as the backbone of the chlorophyll molecule. Magnesium also stimulates enzyme reactions in the plant that help with phosphorus transport. Elevated calcium, potassium and ammonium levels in the soil will reduce magnesium availability for the plant.
Zinc helps facilitate enzyme function for protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in the plant. It is essential for chloroplast formation and auxin metabolism. Auxins are plant hormones that help regulate growth and development, including cell division and flower initiation. Low zinc levels in the soil can increase vulnerability to root diseases such as phytophthora.
Boron is a micronutrient essential for nucleic acid production and plant hormone regulation. It helps maintain plant membrane structural integrity and is critical for sugar translocation, pollination and seed set. Boron also helps facilitate calcium uptake and movement in the plant.
Manganese is essential for chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, oxygen evolution and the activation of fat-forming enzymes. It is also a building block for ribosomes that are key for protein synthesis and nitrogen use in the plant. Adequate manganese levels can help prevent root diseases.
Copper is essential for photosynthesis and facilitates enzyme production for carbohydrate and protein metabolism. The nutrient influences pollen formation, viability and fertilization, thus affecting fruit set. Low levels of copper in acidic soils can lead to an accelerated uptake of manganese that could be toxic to the plant. Copper sprays can be used to manage bacterial and fungal diseases in fruiting crops.
Iron is essential for chlorophyll formation and supporting healthy vegetative growth and efficient photosynthesis. It is critical for oxygen production in the plant. Iron is a mobile nutrient but is not transported from old leaves to new ones, often resulting in deficiencies in older leaves. Iron availability in the soil declines as soil pH increases above 4.
Molybdenum is vital for nitrogen utilization and protein synthesis, and in legumes, it is crucial for nitrogen fixation. It is typically needed in small amounts compared to other micronutrients, and soil availability increases with pH level. Molybdenum will compete with phosphorous and sulfur in the soil for root uptake.
Cobalt facilitates more efficient nodulation in legume crops, improves rhizome to microbial interactions and helps plants recover from stress. It may also play a role in ethylene production in plants.
