Plants require 16 nutrient elements for growth. The elements that are required or necessary for plants to complete their life cycle are called essential plant nutrients. Each of these nutrients has a critical function in plants and are required in the varying amounts in the plant tissue. Three essential nutrients—Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O2)—are taken up from atmospheric Carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The other 13 nutrients are taken up from the soil and are usually grouped as primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients.

Primary Nutrients— Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are utilized in the largest amounts by crops, and therefore, are applied at higher rates than secondary nutrients and micronutrients.

Secondary Nutrients— Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulphur (S) are required in smaller amounts than the primary nutrients.

Micronutrients- Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo) and Chlorine (CI) are required in even smaller amounts than secondary nutrients.

 

Identification of Deficiency Symptoms:

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crop selection