PLANT NUTRITION

• Plant needs sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide in order to synthesize their own food
• Macronutrients


  Materials needed by the plants in larger amounts
• Micronutrients


  Materials needed by the plants in small amounts
• Plant Macronutrients


  • Nitrogen
  • Potassium
  • Phosphorus
• Nitrogen


  • Essential for proteins and nucleic acid synthesis
• Phosphorus


  • Needed for the synthesis of nucleic acids and phospholipids for the cell membrane of plant cells
• Potassium


  • Important in the regulation of stomatal opening and closing through the potassium ion pump
• The numbers in fertilizers refer to the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)
• Other Macronutrients


  • Hydrogen and Oxygen
  • Carbon
  • Sulfur
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
• Hydrogen and Oxygen


  • Needed in the form of water and oxygen gas, necessary for photosynthesis and cellular respiration
• Carbon


  • Needed to form carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and other relevant compounds
• Sulfur


  • Common component of some amino acids like cysteine and methionine
• Calcium


  • Regulates nutrient transport and supports many enzyme functions
• Magnesium


  • Essential for maintaining the plant's ionic balance
• Micronutrients


  • Boron
  • Chlorine
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Zinc
• Boron


  • Relevant in carbohydrate transport, assists metabolic regulation, needed to prevent bud dieback
• Chlorine


  • Needed for osmosis and ionic balance in plants
• Copper


  • Important component of some enzymes, deficiency can lead to browning and yellowing of leaves
• Iron


  • Needed for chlorophyll synthesis
• Manganese


  • Needed for the activation of enzymes needed for chlorophyll formation
• Molybdenum


  • Needed for transforming nitrates into usable forms, needed for nitrogen fixation
• Zinc


  • Participates in chlorophyll formation, needed for the activation of many enzymes
• Nutrient deficiency in plants can lead to functional alteration that can affect entire plant health
• Vascular Tissues


  Xylem and phloem, responsible for the transport of minerals, water, and nutrients
• Xylem


  • Transports minerals and water from roots to other parts of the plants, has tracheids and vessels
• Phloem


  • Transports nutrients and food from roots to other growing parts of plants
• Movement of Materials in Vascular Tissues


  1. Transpiration

  2. Cohesion

  3. Absorption
• Transpiration


  • Water loss through the stem and leaves
• Cohesion


  • Ability of the water to flow through narrow spaces in the xylem and phloem
• Absorption


  • Collection of water and nutrients from the soil through the roots
• Capillary action refers to the ability of the water to flow through narrow spaces in the xylem and phloem
• Deficiency of macro and micronutrients in plants


  Can lead to functional alteration that can affect entire plant health
• Vascular tissues consisting of xylem and phloem


  Are needed for the transportation of nutrients and water in plants
• Macronutrients


  • Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur
• Micronutrients


  • Boron, chlorine, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, and molybdenum