FUCNTIONS OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS

• Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O)

  • Constituent of all organic molecules
• Nitrogen (N)

  
  

  Component of proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids
• Phosphorus (P)

  
  

  In nucleic acids, phytin, coenzymes, adenylases; regulatory function
• Potassium (K)

  
  

  Osmoregulation; enzyme activator, and protein component
• Calcium (Ca)

  
  

  In pectates, and regulatory protein ; regulation of enzyme
• Magnesium (Mg)

  
  

  Integral component of chlorophyll, Mg-ATP; activator of phosphorylation, RuBP carboxylase
• Sulfur (S)

  
  

  Constituent of several coenzymes, vitamins and amino acids
• Iron (Fe)

  
  

  Components of Fe- and Fe-S proteins, cytochromes, and ferredoxins
• Copper (Cu)

  
  

  Activator of several oxidases and lignin synthesis
• Zinc (Zn)

  
  

  Activator of enzymes
• Manganese (Mn)

  
  

  Enzyme activator and photosynthetic evolution of oxygen (Hill reaction)
• Molybdenum (Mo)

  
  

  Enzyme component essential for nitrogenase in bacteria for N2-fixation
• Boron (B)

  
  

  Complex with protein
• Chlorine (Cl)

  
  

  Activator of photosystem II
• Nickel (Ni)

  
  

  Integral component of urease enzyme