6 Critical Nutrients That Plants Require to Grow!

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The nutrients that plants require for growth are broadly classified into three categories, namely primary or macronutrients (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and Potassium); secondary nutrients (calcium, Magnesium, and sulfur); and micronutrients (boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc).

Plants require water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to grow along with soil nutrients. Plants will develop into mature, healthy, and fruit-bearing crops with all these elements. Read on to learn more about them in the following sections.

6 Critical nutrients that plants require to grow

While plants derive some of these nutrients from the soil, others can be obtained by inorganic fertilizers, organic manures, plant residues, and biological nitrogen fixation.

Primary nutrients are usually required in the largest amount and comprise carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and Potassium. On the other hand, secondary nutrients are needed in moderate amounts and contain calcium, Magnesium, and sulfur.

Change is a continuous process. You cannot assess it with the static yardstick of a limited time frame. When a seed is sown into the ground, you cannot immediately see the plant. You have to be patient. With time, it grows into a large tree. And then the flowers bloom, and only then can the fruits be plucked.

Mamata Banerjee

Then comes micronutrients that are required in tiny amounts. They comprise boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. Overall, sixteen different chemical elements come into play in a plant’s growth and survival.

Today, we talk about the primary nutrients for plant growth and development.

1. Carbon is one critical nutrient needed by plants

Carbon (C) is responsible for all life on earth, making it one of the essential nutrients for plant growth. It can be well-referred as the building block for plant tissues.

Carbon is absorbed through the leaves, and it helps the plant produce carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, starches, cellulose, and lignin.

Thus, carbon is present in all macromolecules. Typically, almost half of the plant’s dry matter is made up of carbon. Plants derive organic carbon from crop residues, manures, and animal wastes.

Once the plant’s life cycle is over, carbon dioxide is formed again in the decomposition process. This way, carbon is returned to the atmosphere and can thus begin the cycle again.

2. Hydrogen is a critical nutrient needed by plants from water

Hydrogen (H) is another important nutrient for plants, and they derive it almost entirely from water through photosynthesis. Nearly every organic compound contains hydrogen, which is well-known to be a structural element for plants.

It is present both in the atmosphere as well as the growing environment. This is because hydrogen can be both – an element and a compound.

As an element, hydrogen is the lightest consisting of only one proton, one electron, and usually no neutrons. Hydrogen has two H atoms that share an electron pair as a compound. This results in a covalent bond, and thus it takes the form of a gas.

3. Oxygen is the most vital and critical nutrient for a plant

Oxygen (O), as we all know, is one of the most critical elements for the sustenance of life. It is also essential for cellular respiration as it plays a significant role in photosynthesis. It should also be noted that plants do not absorb oxygen from the air.

Plants obtain oxygen by breaking down carbon dioxide.

Most oxygen is released as a by-product, and only a portion is stored for energy in ATP. The amount of oxygen expelled as a by-product by the plants help in sustaining life on planet earth.

Also, only the leaves and stems of a plant can obtain oxygen through photosynthesis, while the roots are forced to acquire oxygen from the environment through the air spaces in the soil.

Oxygen also plays a significant role in a process known as denitrification. This is when oxygen interacts with nitrogen and, in turn, impacts other elements’ oxidation states.

4. A very critical nutrient for plants is Nitrogen

Nitrogen (N) is another element found most abundantly in plant cells. While it is a part of proteins and nucleic acids, it is also used to synthesize vitamins. It is an essential macronutrient and plants more nitrogen than any other element.

This element plays a significant role in ensuring that plants are healthy and nutritious once harvested. And since it is also one of the most abundant elements in the earth’s atmosphere and surface, plants can quickly obtain it from their surroundings.

One of the only reasons for the shortage of Nitrogen in plants is that the majority of nutrient in the atmosphere and earth’s crust is not obtainable for direct plant uptake.

Sources of nitrogen

Organic nitrogen sources include plant residue, soil organic matter, or bacteria unavailable to plants. The inorganic sources include ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-), which are plant-available forms. However, nitrate is likely to get lost from the system as it is water-soluble and does not cooperate with soil particles.

5. Phosphorous is another critical nutrient needed by plants

Phosphorous (P) is a vital macronutrient responsible for plant reproduction. The availability of this nutrient can directly impact a plant’s grain or fruit yield.

Phosphorus is associated with the plant’s ability to utilize and store energy.

This also includes the process of photosynthesis. The deficiency of phosphorous can also cause crop stunting or discoloration.

Sources of phosphorus

One of the significant sources of phosphorous in soil organic matter commonly comprises a range of organic phosphorous compounds.

These compounds need to be converted into inorganic phosphate with the help of soil microorganisms so that the plants can obtain them. Soil organic matter can be an excellent source of organic phosphorous compounds released slowly over time.

The amount of soluble phosphorous available in the soil is relatively less. Even phosphorous added with the help of compost, fertilizer, or manure is immobilized in soil. Thus, the efficiency of a phosphorous fertilizer can be relatively low.

6. Potassium is a critical nutrient needed by plants, especially in growth and yield

Potassium (K) is linked to plant tissue’s nutrients, water, and carbohydrates. It also impacts the plant’s protein, starch, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. It is a stable mineral form and is usually tightly held within the soil.

Moreover, Potassium helps regulate the opening and closing of the stomata, which regulates the exchange of water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Potassium deficiency can lead to stunted growth of plants and reduced yield. The potassium deficiency plant deficiency is less resistant to drought, heavy rains, and high or low temperatures. For instance, a perennial crop like alfalfa requires Potassium to withstand the winter season.

Benefits of Potassium as a Nutrient for Plants

Plants that get Potassium can also be less resistant to diseases, pests, and nematode attacks. This is one of the reasons why it is also known as the ‘quality’ nutrient.

It is also usually found in three forms in an agricultural system as one of the essential macronutrients.

What Are Some Other Important Nutrients for Plant Growth?

As mentioned earlier, macronutrients have a significant role in the growth and development of a plant. However, other nutrients, such as secondary and micronutrients, play a substantial role in smaller quantities.

These nutrients help plants utilize primary nutrients to their fullest extent and thus prevent yellowed leaves, stunted fruits or tubers, or weak stalks. Let us know more about other nutrients that help in plant growth:

Secondary Nutrients needed by plants

Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) are considered secondary nutrients for plant growth.

Calcium is another nutrient needed by plants.

Calcium plays a twofold role in the growth of a plant. It not only regulates nutrient transport but also supports various enzyme functions.

Moreover, calcium substitutes hydrogen (H) ions from the soil surface when limestone is added to reduce soil acidity.

A nutrient needed by plants in photosynthesis is Magnesium

Magnesium is another essential nutrient that plays a vital role in photosynthesis.

Magnesium is also a phosphorus carrier in plants and is important for cell division and protein formation.

Thus, Magnesium is also an essential nutrient for phosphate metabolism, plant respiration, and even the initiation of several enzyme systems.

Sulfur is another essential nutrient for plants.

Sulfur is also an essential secondary nutrient part of every living cell. It is required to synthesize proteins and amino acids like cysteine and methionine.

It also helps the crops in building winter hardiness. Sulfur deficiency may result in the yellowing of younger leaves. This should not be confused with nitrogen deficiency which usually causes the yellowing of older leaves.

Micronutrients needed by plants

Although crops use smaller amounts, micronutrients are essential for plant growth.

Nutrients like Boron (B), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), and chlorine (Cl) are the micronutrients that makeup only a small proportion of the plants.

A deficiency of these nutrients can cause a decrease in crop yield and may even hinder the quality of the crop. However, excess of these nutrients may cause toxicity.

Usually, the availability of each of these nutrients depends on environmental and soil conditions. Soil testing or plant tissue analysis can help ensure the plant gets the proper nutrients.

What is the Role of Water in Nutrition Management in Plants?

Water comprises about 80 to 90 percent of a plant’s total weight. It helps regulate the plant’s temperature and the transportation of all the nutrients within it.

Water is a vital part and need for a plant, as it supports cell structure, enables metabolic functions, and helps in photosynthesis.

Since water acts as a solvent, plants can absorb nutrients better when dissolved in water. The root hair absorbs water from the soil and carries it to the leaves through the xylem. Water evaporates in the form of water vapor from the leaves.

Then, with the help of transpiration and the polarity of water molecules that help form hydrogen bonds, more water is drawn from the roots up to the leaves.

Other factors to look out for in plant health

And to maintain adequate quantities of nutrients, one should consider important factors like crop, variety, climatic conditions, and soil properties. These factors can significantly impact a plant’s nutrient needs and crop yield.

It is also essential for a gardener or farmer to understand crop needs to determine the ideal timing for fertilizer applications.

We hope this gives you a basic idea about how the availability of different nutrients impacts the growth and development of the plant.

Watering your plants

Of course, just knowing the benefits of watering your plants will not cut it. Knowing how to do it properly and overwatering them should also be things you should look into.

Watering plants are best done in the morning when the weather is cooler.

This setting will allow your plant ample time to soak in said water for nutrient transfer without the risk of water evaporating should you have done it later or in hotter conditions. This article covered more about this article that I wrote about the best time to water plants.

As for the possibility of overwatering your plants is covered in detail in this article of mine on overwatering plants, so feel free to check it out here. One fundamental way to spot overwatering in plants would be the leaf color change from their usual to a yellow tint. More of the symptoms are covered in the article.

FAQs on 6 Critical Nutrients That Plants Require to Grow!

Which type of nutrients is needed in large amounts by plants?
Nutrients that plants need in large amounts to thrive are called macronutrients. On the other hand, those that require little are called micronutrients. Macronutrients include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, sulfur, phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, and oxygen.

What nutrient is needed for root growth?
Boron is a nutrient that one can look into to boost root growth. The lack of these nutrients is said to cause severe impairment in the cell wall’s structural ability and functions, which leads to root and shoot growth reduction. This can be especially seen in the early growth stages of plants.

What nutrient is best for flowering?
Phosphorus is known as an essential nutrient for flowering plants. It helps the plant thrive during its root development and flowering stage. Conduct a soil test on your bloom’s soil to check their needs, as they might be helped with fertilizers rich in phosphorus to bloom.

What are the five things plants need to grow?
To thrive, plants need air, water, light, nutrients, and space. They will need sunlight and air to create their food, glucose, and nutrients to boost their growth, which the water will then transport, and a medium or space where their roots seep in to find more nutrients and water.

Which fertilizer is best for plant growth?
When buying fertilizers, they usually have the ratio of the three big macronutrients plants need. Those would be Nitrogen. Phosphorus and Potassium form NPK (an abbreviation for their element symbols). It’s best to stick with fertilizer containing twice as much phosphorus as nitrogen or Potassium.

Conclusion on six critical nutrients that plants require to grow

Nutrient management is essential and can be significant for maintaining crop yields. The availability of nutrients majorly depends on environmental and soil conditions.

If need be, look into doing a soil test on your plant’s soil to know what you can do to boost it further. Soil tests will give you your soil’s nutritional, biological, and chemical composition to determine what nutrients you can add to amend deficiencies. I have written an article on doing soil tests and their benefits, linked here.

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