Main Inorganic Nutrients 

 
3.1 Main Inorganic Nutrients
 
Macronutrients and Micronutrients Required by Plants
  • Nutrients can be divided according to quantities required by plants, which are macronutrients and micronutrients.
  • Main inorganic nutrients:
    • Macronutrients:
      • Carbon (C)
      • Calsium (Ca)
      • Hidrogen (H)
      • Magnesium (Mg)
      • Oxsigen (O)
      • Phosphorus (P)
      • Nitrogen (N)
      • Sulphur (S)
      • Potassium (K)
    • Micronutrients:
      • Clorin (Cl)
      • Zinc (Zn)
      • Iron (Fe)
      • Copper (Cu)
      • Manganese (Mn) 
      • Nickel (Ni)
      • Boron (B)
      • Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Three main macronutrients, which are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, can be obtained easily from air and water from the soil.
  • These nutrients make up most of the dry mass of plants.
  • Therefore, the lack of these nutrients is rarely experienced by plants.
  • The remaining nutrients are taken in the form of mineral salts which are dissolved in the soil through fertilisation.
 
The functions and effects of macronutrient deficiency
Macronutrients Function Effects of Defficiency
Carbon (C), Oxygen (O), Hydrogen (H)
  • Synthesis main organic compounds such as carbohydrate, protein, lipis and nucleic acid .
  • Death of plants.
Nitrogen (N)
  • Synthesis of chlorophyll, amino acid and nucleic acids.
  • Chlorosis.
  • Stunted growth.
Phosphorus (P)
  • Synthesises nucleic acids, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phospholipids in plasma membrane.
  • Act as coenzymes in photosynthesis and respiration.
  • Poor root growth.
  • Red or purple spots on old leaves.

.

Potassium K)
  • Synthesis of protein.
  • Cofactors for enzymes.
  • Premature death of plants.
  • Yellow-edged leaves.
Calcium (Ca)
  • Main component of middle lamella, cell wall and spindle fibres during cell division.
  • Stunted growth.
  • Formation of unhealthy leaves.
Magnesium (Mg)
  • Synthesis of chlorophyll and activate plant enzyme.
  • Chlorosis and red spots on leaf surface.
Sulphur (S)
  • Components of a few amino acids.
  • One of vitamin B constituents and a few types of coenzymes.
  • Chlorosis.
 
This image is a diagram illustrating various micronutrients. At the center of the diagram is the word ‘MICRONUTRIENTS’ in a rectangular box. Surrounding this central box are eight other rectangular boxes, each containing the name and chemical symbol of a different micronutrient. The micronutrients listed are: 1. Chlorine (Cl) 2. Iron (Fe) 3. Manganese (Mn) 4. Molybdenum (Mo) 5. Boron (B) 6. Nickel (Ni) 7. Copper (Cu) 8. Zinc (Zn) Arrows point from the central ‘MICRONUTRIENTS’ box to each of the surrounding boxes. The logo ‘Pandai’ is located in the top
 
The Functions and Effects of Micronutrients Deficiency
Micronutrients Function Effects of Defficiency
Chlorine (Cl)
  • Control osmotic pressure and ion balance.
  • Chlorosis.
  • Wilting of young leaves.
Iron (Fe)
  • Synthesis chlorophyll.
  • Important in the growth of young plants.
  • Young leaves become yellowish.
Manganese (Mn) 
  • Activates photosynthetic enzymes.
  • Important for cell respiration and nitrogen metabolism.
  • Network of dark green leaf veins with a background of light green.
  • Light brown or grey spots in between leaf veins.
Boron (b)
  • Helps the roots in calcium ion uptake and sucrose translocation.
  • Involves in carbohydrate metabolism and helps in germination of pollen.
  • Death of terminal buds and abnormal growth.
  • Leaves become thicker, rolled up and fragile.
Zinc (Zn)
  • Synthesis of auxin (growth hormone).
  • As a cofactor in carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Stunted growth .
  • Leaf surfaces become spotted with chlorosis parts.
Copper (Cu)
  • Synthesis chlorophyll.
  • Activates enzymes.
  • Death of young shoot apex.
  • Brown spots on terminal leaves.
  • Plants become stunted.
Nickel (Ni)
  • A component of plant enzymes.
  • Involved in the breakdown of urea to become ammonia which can be used by plants.
  • Stunted growth.
  • Reduces crop production.
  • Burnt effect at the end of leaves due to urea accumulation.
Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Involves in nitrogen fixation and nitrate reduction during protein synthesis.
  • Chlorosis in between matured leaf veins.
  • Leaf colour becomes pale green.
  • Reduces crop production.
 
Uses of Culture Solution
  • A culture solution is used to study the importance of nutrients for plant growth.
  • A culture solution known as Knop’s solution, contains all nutrients including trace elements needed by healthy plants.
  • A complete culture solution was prepared by a chemist named Wilhelm Knop in 1859.
 

 

 

 

 

Main Inorganic Nutrients 

 
3.1 Main Inorganic Nutrients
 
Macronutrients and Micronutrients Required by Plants
  • Nutrients can be divided according to quantities required by plants, which are macronutrients and micronutrients.
  • Main inorganic nutrients:
    • Macronutrients:
      • Carbon (C)
      • Calsium (Ca)
      • Hidrogen (H)
      • Magnesium (Mg)
      • Oxsigen (O)
      • Phosphorus (P)
      • Nitrogen (N)
      • Sulphur (S)
      • Potassium (K)
    • Micronutrients:
      • Clorin (Cl)
      • Zinc (Zn)
      • Iron (Fe)
      • Copper (Cu)
      • Manganese (Mn) 
      • Nickel (Ni)
      • Boron (B)
      • Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Three main macronutrients, which are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, can be obtained easily from air and water from the soil.
  • These nutrients make up most of the dry mass of plants.
  • Therefore, the lack of these nutrients is rarely experienced by plants.
  • The remaining nutrients are taken in the form of mineral salts which are dissolved in the soil through fertilisation.
 
The functions and effects of macronutrient deficiency
Macronutrients Function Effects of Defficiency
Carbon (C), Oxygen (O), Hydrogen (H)
  • Synthesis main organic compounds such as carbohydrate, protein, lipis and nucleic acid .
  • Death of plants.
Nitrogen (N)
  • Synthesis of chlorophyll, amino acid and nucleic acids.
  • Chlorosis.
  • Stunted growth.
Phosphorus (P)
  • Synthesises nucleic acids, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phospholipids in plasma membrane.
  • Act as coenzymes in photosynthesis and respiration.
  • Poor root growth.
  • Red or purple spots on old leaves.

.

Potassium K)
  • Synthesis of protein.
  • Cofactors for enzymes.
  • Premature death of plants.
  • Yellow-edged leaves.
Calcium (Ca)
  • Main component of middle lamella, cell wall and spindle fibres during cell division.
  • Stunted growth.
  • Formation of unhealthy leaves.
Magnesium (Mg)
  • Synthesis of chlorophyll and activate plant enzyme.
  • Chlorosis and red spots on leaf surface.
Sulphur (S)
  • Components of a few amino acids.
  • One of vitamin B constituents and a few types of coenzymes.
  • Chlorosis.
 
This image is a diagram illustrating various micronutrients. At the center of the diagram is the word ‘MICRONUTRIENTS’ in a rectangular box. Surrounding this central box are eight other rectangular boxes, each containing the name and chemical symbol of a different micronutrient. The micronutrients listed are: 1. Chlorine (Cl) 2. Iron (Fe) 3. Manganese (Mn) 4. Molybdenum (Mo) 5. Boron (B) 6. Nickel (Ni) 7. Copper (Cu) 8. Zinc (Zn) Arrows point from the central ‘MICRONUTRIENTS’ box to each of the surrounding boxes. The logo ‘Pandai’ is located in the top
 
The Functions and Effects of Micronutrients Deficiency
Micronutrients Function Effects of Defficiency
Chlorine (Cl)
  • Control osmotic pressure and ion balance.
  • Chlorosis.
  • Wilting of young leaves.
Iron (Fe)
  • Synthesis chlorophyll.
  • Important in the growth of young plants.
  • Young leaves become yellowish.
Manganese (Mn) 
  • Activates photosynthetic enzymes.
  • Important for cell respiration and nitrogen metabolism.
  • Network of dark green leaf veins with a background of light green.
  • Light brown or grey spots in between leaf veins.
Boron (b)
  • Helps the roots in calcium ion uptake and sucrose translocation.
  • Involves in carbohydrate metabolism and helps in germination of pollen.
  • Death of terminal buds and abnormal growth.
  • Leaves become thicker, rolled up and fragile.
Zinc (Zn)
  • Synthesis of auxin (growth hormone).
  • As a cofactor in carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Stunted growth .
  • Leaf surfaces become spotted with chlorosis parts.
Copper (Cu)
  • Synthesis chlorophyll.
  • Activates enzymes.
  • Death of young shoot apex.
  • Brown spots on terminal leaves.
  • Plants become stunted.
Nickel (Ni)
  • A component of plant enzymes.
  • Involved in the breakdown of urea to become ammonia which can be used by plants.
  • Stunted growth.
  • Reduces crop production.
  • Burnt effect at the end of leaves due to urea accumulation.
Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Involves in nitrogen fixation and nitrate reduction during protein synthesis.
  • Chlorosis in between matured leaf veins.
  • Leaf colour becomes pale green.
  • Reduces crop production.
 
Uses of Culture Solution
  • A culture solution is used to study the importance of nutrients for plant growth.
  • A culture solution known as Knop’s solution, contains all nutrients including trace elements needed by healthy plants.
  • A complete culture solution was prepared by a chemist named Wilhelm Knop in 1859.