Plant Macro and Micronutrients Function and Deficiency

• Macronutrients


  nutrients that provide energy to the plants and are required in larger amounts to maintain their development and growth
• 9 Macronutrients


  Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Carbon, Oxygen, and Hydrogen
• Potassium Deficiency

  • A deficiency where older leaves may wilt, look scorched.
  • Causes yellowing and scorching of older leaves.
  • Fruit may not expand fully at the stem end, although they look swollen at the tip end.
• Potassium


  absorbed by plants in larger amounts than any other mineral element except nitrogen and, in some cases, calcium.

  Helps in the building of protein, photosynthesis, fruit quality and reduction of diseases.

  It is supplied to plants by soil minerals, organic materials, and fertilizer.
• Calcium


  It serves as a constituent of cell walls and membranes and thus contributes to the structure of cells and the upholding of physical barriers against pathogens.
• Calcium Deficiency

  • First appear on younger leaves and tissues, growth is inhibited, and plants have a bushy appearance
• Calcium Deficiency


  A deficiency that first appear on younger leaves and tissues, growth is inhibited, and plants have a bushy appearance
• Magnesium


  It largely involves chlorophyll synthesis, production, transportation, and utilization of photoassimilates, enzyme activation, and protein synthesis.
• Magnesium Deficiency


  Causes yellowing of older leaves.

  Light tan burn will develop in the yellow regions if the deficiency is severe.

  Fruit yields are reduced
• the constituent of amino acids ( cystein and methionine), vitamin (B,), co-enzyme A and volatile oil.

  • Affects an increase in nodule formation in root of leguminous plants.
  • Adversely affects chlorophyll synthesis
• Sulfur Deficiency

  • Leaves show a general overall chlorosis while still retaining some green color.
  • The veins and petioles show a very distinct reddish color.
  • Leaves tend to become more erect and often twisted and brittle
• Nitrogen

  • It is a major component of chlorophyll.
  • Drive plant growth
  • Responsible for converting sunlight to usable plant energy
• Nitrogen Deficiency


  A deficiency that cause slow growth and uniform yellowing of older leaves
• Phosphorous

  • It promotes healthy root growth and fruit ripening.
  • It is an essential participating in the skeleton of plasma membrane, nucleic acids, many enzyme and organic molecule.
  • It has an important role in the energy transfer reaction and in oxidation reduction process.
• Phosphorous Deficiency

  • Leaves show some necrotic spots
  • Plants are dwarfed and stunted
  • Some species develop a distinct purpling of stem, petiole and under side of the leaves.
  • In severe condition, leaves develop a blue-gray luster
• Carbon

  • It is used in respiration, where the plant breaks down sugars to get energy.
  • Is taken in as part of photosynthesis
• Carbon Deficiency


  Necrosis or the death of plant tissues, turning it brown Chlorosis or the yellowing of leaves as chlorophyll begins to die. Stunted growth and twisted leaves
• Carbon Deficiency

  • Necrosis or the death of plant tissues, turning it brown
  • Chlorosis or the yellowing of leaves as chlorophyll begins to die.
  • Stunted growth and twisted leaves
• Oxygen

  • It is used in aerobic respiration.
  • Release metabolic energy essential for growth
• Oxygen Deficiency

  • Petioles drooping ves may begin wilting, turning light green - Leaves may drop prematurely
• Oxygen Deficiency

  • Petioles drooping
  • Leaves may begin wilting, turning light green
  • Leaves may drop prematurely
• Hydrogen

  • Seed germination and seedling growth
  • Adventitious rooting and root elongation
  • Stomatal closure
• Hydrogen Deficiency

  • Wilting, yellowing of leaves, and brown leaf margins or premature leaf drop
  • Branch dieback, damaged roots, and even death
• Micronutrients


  those essential elements required only in small quantities for plant growth and reproduction. They constitute in total less than 1% of the dry weight of most plants
• Micronutrients


  Boron, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Molybdenum, Chlorine, and Nickel
• Boron

  • cell wall formation and stability
  • sugar or energy transport in growing parts of plants
  • pollen formation
  • germination
• Boron Deficiency

  • older leaves develop yellow border
  • newer leaves are distorted and appear mottled
  • hollow stem
  • poor and discolored curd formation
• Zinc

  essential component of enzymes , growth regulation ,carbohydrate metabolism, and protein synthesis
• Zinc Deficiency

  • chlorosis on leaves
  • short internodes
  • decrease in leaf size
• Manganese

  • activator and cofactor of hundreds of metalloenzymes
  • related to nitrogen assimilation
  • photosynthesis
• Manganese Deficiency

  • new leaves to be yellow to whitish with relatively wide, green areas along the veins
  • On severely affected leaves, brown dead spots develop between veins
• Iron

  • component of many enzymes
  • chlorophyll synthesis
  • associated with energy transfer, nitrate transformations, nitrogen fixation, and lignin formation
• Iron Deficiency

  • interveinal chlorosis
  • yellowing of leaves
  • if severe deficiency, leaves turn brown and tattered as leaf tissues die
• Copper

  • component of enzymes
  • involved in lignin synthesis
  • strengthens cell wall and prevents wilting
• Copper Deficiency

  • edges and tips begin to turn white or pale yellow
  • delayed flowering and maturity
  • stunting and drooping of plants
  • necrotic spots and chlorotic patches
• Molybdenum

  • regulate nitrogen nutrition
  • significant effect on pollen formation
• Molybdenum Deficiency

  • crown leaves become bright yellow
  • margins become necrotic.
  • leaves are stunted and misshapen
  • Cause whiptail in which the leaves have a thin, strappy appearance.
• Chlorine

  • osmotic functions within the plant (i.e., stomatal opening/closing)
  • electrical charge balance in several physiological function
  • decreasing the incidence of various diseases
• Chlorine Deficiency

  • more susceptibility to diseases
  • wilting especially at the margins
  • As the deficiency progresses and becomes more severe, the leaves exhibit curling, bronzing, chlorosis, and necrosis
• Nickel

  • enzyme cofactor and activator
  • essential component of nitrogenase that is involved in nitrogen fixation
  • influences seed germination and early plant growth
  • influences the efficiency of urea utilization by plants