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PLANT NUTRIENTS
Provided by HydroFarm, Inc.
There are at present 16 Plant Nutrients which are known to be essential for the growth and reproduction of higher plants. These elements are: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, sulfur, calcium, iron, magnesium, boron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, and chlorine. Other nutrients which may be essential are cobalt, strontium, vanadium, silicon, and nickel though these are not considered essential by the world community for all plants and are not routinely applied as a fertilizer nutrient. As techniques for evaluating the essentiality of trace elements improve, it is generally believed that more elements will be added to the list of essential plant nutrients.
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PRIMARY NUTRIENTS
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SECONDARY NUTRIENTS
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MICRO NUTRIENTS
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Nitrogen
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Magnesium
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Iron
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Phosphorus
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Calcium
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Zinc
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Potassium
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Sulfur
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Boron
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Primary nutrient functions
NITROGEN (N)
1.) An important constituent of chlorophyll, protoplasm, protein and nucleic.
2.) Increases growth and development of all living tissues.
3.) Improves the quality of leafy vegetables and fodders and the protein content of food grains.
PHOSPHORUS (P)
1.) A constituent of phosphatides, nucleic acids, proteins, phospholipids and coenzymes NAD, NADP and ATP.
2.) Constituent of certain amino acids.
3.) Necessary for cell division, a constituent of chromosomes; stimulates root development.
4.) Necessary for meristematic growth; seed and fruit development; stimulates flowering.
POTASSIUM (K)
1.) An activator of enzymes involved in photosynthesis and protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
2.) Assists carbohydrate translocation; synthesis of protein and maintenance of its stability; membrane permeability and pH control; water utilization by stomatal regulation.
3.) Improves utilization of light during cool and cloudy weather and thereby enhances plant ability to resist cold and other adverse conditions.
4.) Enhances the plant's ability to resist diseases.
5.) Increases size of grains or seeds and improves the quality of fruits and vegetables.
The Role of pH in Plant Nutrition
The pH of the soil is one of the most important factors for growing plants. PH affects the uptake of essential nutrients by plants, soil microbial activity as well as the health of plants in general. The pH is something that must be continually monitored if optimal crop yields are to be obtained. Soil and rhizosphere pH is one of the most important factors to consider when growing a plant. With the exception of water, there are few other things that can have such widespread effects on the growth of a crop. Regardless of how much fertilizer one puts out, if pH is not controlled, then that fertilizer may not be of any use because it will be unavailable for uptake by the plant. In addition, pH will affect the activity of pesticides applied to the soil. Above all else though, pH can have a tremendous impact on the overall health of a plant. If grown in an unsuitable pH, a plant will be weak and susceptible to disease problems.
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