Eighteen elements are considered essential for plant growth.
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are primarily supplied by air and
water. Plant roots absorb the remaining 15 elements from the
surrounding soil.
These elements are divided into three groups based
on their relative abundance in plants: Primary Nutrients (or Major
Nutrients), Secondary Nutrients (or Minor Nutrients), and Trace
Nutrients (or Micronutrients).
Although the Major Nutrients are
needed in the greatest quantities, a deficiency of any one nutrient
can prevent plant growth, or reduce it to unsatisfactory levels.
Even though some soils may already contain these nutrients, they may
not be in a form available for plant growth. The best way to ensure
that all of the nutrients are available in the soil is through
regular applications of plant foods.
The table below provides more information on each nutrient, its
deficiency symptoms, and possible plant foods to cure the deficiency.
Primary
Nutrients |
Function |
DeficiencySymptoms |
*Solutions |
| Nitrogen |
Vigorous growth & dark green color |
Light green leaves; stunted growth
|
Dried Blood, Garden
Manure, Cottonseed Meal, Ammonium Sulfate, Urea
|
| Phosporus |
Root development &
flowering
|
Smaller yields of seeds &
fruit; purplish leaves, stems & branches;
|
Rock Phosphate, Bone
Meal, Single Super
Phosphate, Triple Super
Phosphate |
| Potassium |
Overall hardiness &
disease resistance |
Reduced yields; Spotted or curled
leaves; Weak root system |
Sulfate of Potash, Sulfate
of Potash Magnesia,
Muriate of Potash,
Greensand |
Secondary
Nutrients |
Function |
Deficiency Symptoms |
*Solutions |
| Calcium |
Plant vigor; Aids in
uptake of nutrients |
Deformed terminal leaves; Poor root growth |
Garden Lime, Garden
Gypsum |
| Magnesium |
Essential part of
chlorophyll |
Yellowing of older leaves |
Garden Lime, Sulfate of
Potash Magnesia |
| Sulfur |
Dark green color;
Seed production |
Yellow leaves; Stunted,
spindly plants |
Garden Sulfur, Sulfate
of Potash, Gypsum |
Trace
Nutrients |
Function |
Deficiency Symptoms |
|
| Boron |
Increases flowering
& fruit development |
Terminal buds die; Less
flowers & fruit develop |
Garden Manure, Bone Meal |
| Chlorine |
Helps control water loss & moisture stress |
Plants wilt; yellow leaves |
Muriate of Potash, Garden Manure, Greensand
|
| Cobalt |
Improves growth &
transpiration |
Reduced growth and
yellowing of foliage |
Greensand, Kelp, Cottonseed Meal |
| Copper |
Helps produce chlorophyll |
Yellow, wilted leaves;
Lack of flowering |
Garden Manure,
Greensand |
| Iron |
Promotes dark green
leaves |
Yellow leaves |
Greensand, Garden
Manure, Cottonseed Meal |
| Manganese |
Helps produce chlorophyll |
Intervenous chlorosis in
younger leaves |
Garden Manure, Greensand |
| Molybdenum |
Essential in some enzyme systems |
Pale green, rolled or cupped leaves |
Greensand, Lime (makes
it more available) |
| Sodium |
Aids water regulation & photosynthesis
|
Plants wilt |
Kelp, Garden Manure,
Bone Meal, Greensand |
| Zinc |
Enzyme & growth
hormone production |
Yellow leaves, Rosetted
(clustered) leaves |
Garden Manure, Greensand, Cottonseed
Meal |