Plants

• Nitrates:

  -For making amino acids and proteins, these are needed for cell growth.

  -If a plant can't get enough nitrates it will be stunted and older leaves will turn yellow.
• Phosphates:

  -For making DNA and cell membranes and they're needed for respiration and growth.

  -Plants without enough phosphate have poor root growth and their older leaves are purple.
• Potassium:

  -Needed to help the enzymes for photosynthesis and respiration.

  -If there's not enough potassium in the soil, plants have poor flower and fruit growth and discoloured leaves.
• Magnesium:

  -Is needed for making chlorophyll.

  -Plants without enough magnesium have yellow leaves.
• The xylem carry water and mineral salts from the roots up the shoot to the leaves in the transpiration stream.
• The phloem transport sugars, like sucrose, and amino acids from where they're made in the leaves to other parts of the plant. This movement of food substances around the plant is known as translocation.