Role of Plant Nutrients, Deficiency Symptoms, Disorder and Their Available Forms

Role of Nutrients, Deficiency Symptoms, Disorder and Available Forms

(1). Nitrogen

• Basic component of proteins and chlorophyll (the pigment that gives plants their green colour). 
• Plays an essential role in plant growth. 
• Also feeds microorganisms in the soil

Deficiency

• Lower leaves become yellow and dries.
• V shaped chlorosis on older leaves or yellowing at tip.

Disorder

• Starvation disease due to nitrogen deficiency.
• Buttoning in cauliflower.

(2). Phosphorous

• Plays an important role in root growth and promotes the establishment of young plants, flowering, fruiting and ripening, photosynthesis, respiration and overall plant growth.

Deficiency

• Due to deficiency of single element the life cycle of plant can't be completed hence Phosphorus is called " key of life "
• Deficiency imparts dark green colour in leaves.
• Later develops red purple colourration.

Disorder

• Sickle leaf diseases.

(3). Potassium

• Moves through the plant. Promotes the movement of sugars, turgor and stem rigidity.
•  Also increases the plant’s overall resistance to cold, diseases, insect pests, etc. 
• Promotes the formation of flower buds, the hardening-off of woody plants and fruiting.

Deficiency

• Spot of dead tissue at tips.
• Scorching and burning on margins of autumn leaves.

Disorder

• Rottle/ dieback disease.

(4). Calcium

• It is constituent of cell wall
• Calcium is a mobile in plants and deficiency symptoms appear on Meristem tip portion.

Deficiency

• Terminal bud die

Disorder

• Tip hooking.
• Blossom end rot of tomato(BER).
• Popping in groundnut.

(5). Magnesium

• An important part of chlorophyll. 
• Helps fruit ripen and seeds germinate. 
• Reinforces cell walls and promotes the absorption of phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur by plants

Disorder 

• Sand -drown disease of tobacco.

(6). Sulphur 

• A component of several proteins, enzymes and vitamins. 
• Contributes to chlorophyll production. 
•  Helps plants absorb potassium, calcium and magnesium. 

Disorder

• Akiochi disease of rice due to Excess of hydrogen sulphide.
• Tea yellow disease of tea.

(7). Iron

• Essential to chlorophyll production.
• Also contributes to the formation of some enzymes and amino acids.

Deficiency

• Interveinal complete chlorosis.
• Scorching of leaf margin.
• Yellowing of iron chlorosis in groundnut.

(8). Manganese 

• Promotes seed germination and speeds plant maturity. Plays an important role in photosynthesis by contributing to chlorophyll production. Essential for nitrogen assimilation and protein formation.

Deficiency 

• Dead spot on leaves.

Disorder

• Marsh spot of pea.
• Pahala blight of sugarcane.

(9). Copper

• Compound of plastocyanin.
• Essential for photosynthesis/ respiration
• Dieback and reclamation disease of cereals.

(10). Boron

• Essential to overall plant health and tissue growth. 
•  Promotes the formation of fruit and the absorption of water
• It is necessary for translocation of Sugars and is involved in reproduction and germination of pollen.
• Browning of cauliflower is caused by Boron deficiency.
• Top sickness of tobacco.
• Fruit cracking of tomato.
• Hard fruit of citrus.
• Hen and chicken disease of grape.

(11). Zinc 

• Plays an important role in the synthesis of proteins, enzymes and growth hormones.
• Zn deficiency causes-
• White bud of maize.
• Khaira disease of rice.
• Little leaf of cotton.
• Mottled leaf of citrus. 
• Rosette formation.

(12). Cobalt 

• It is component of Vitamin B
• It is essential for formation of type of hemoglobin in N-fixing nodule tissue known as leghemoglobin.
• Act as O2 carrier in roots.
• Also known as animal protein factor

(13). Molybdenum

• Essential for nitrogen assimilation by plants and nitrogen fixation by bacteria. 
• This means that it is needed for the production of nitrogen-based proteins.
• It is absorbed as molybdate MoO4-2 forms.
• Whiptail of cauliflower is due to deficiency of Mo.
• Mo is required for carrot & raphanus for sweetness.

(14). Nickel 

• Key component of selected enzymes involved in N metabolism and biological N fixation. 

(15). Chlorine 

• Stimulates photosynthesis

Forms of nutrient element absorbed by plants 

C -  Mainly through leaves - CO2 

H - HOH (Hydrogen from H2O)–H+ 

O - CO2 mainly through leaves – O2-,OH- ,(CO3) 2-

N - NH4 + , NO3 

K - K+ 

Ca - Ca2+ 

Mg - Mg2+

S - (SO4)2- 

Fe - Fe2+ (Ferrous), Fe3+ (Ferric) 

Mn - Mn2+ (Manganous), Mn4+ (Manganic)

Zn - Zn2+ 

Cu - Cu+(Cuprous), Cu2+ (Cupric) 

Co - Co2+ 

Na - Na+ 

Si - Si(OH)4 

Cl - Cl-

B - H3BO3 (Boric acid) H2BO3 (Borate) 

Mo - (MoO4)2-

Thank You

Vikas Kashyap:)

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