1. • Remember that information
from classwork and
slideshares from Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday will
need to be reviewed for a
small test on Friday over this
chapter.
3. Plant Nutrition
• Sometimes confused with plant fertilization
• THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
• Plant nutrition refers to availability and type
of basic chemical elements in plant.
• Plant fertilization is the process of adding
nutrients to the soil or leaves so these
chemicals are added to the growing
environment of the plant.
4. Plant Nutrition
• There are elements that are essential for
normal plant growth.
• They are required in various amounts by plants
and must be available in the relative
proportions if the plants are to produce well.
• Some elements are used in huge amounts
• Others are used in large amounts-
macronutrients
• Micronutrients are in small quantities
5. Macronutrients
Plants require these nutrients in relatively large
amounts
C, O, H, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S
6. For what & from where?
C Carbon-from atmosphere, used in photosynthesis CO2
O Oxygen-from atmosphere, used in photosynthesis CO2
Hydrogen-from atmosphere, water around plant,
H used in photosynthesis
H2O
N protein & nucleic acid synthesis soil
P nucleic acids, ATP, phospholipids soil
K stomate control, water balance soil
Ca cell wall & membrane structure, regulation soil
Mg chlorophyll soil
S proteins, enzymes soil
7. Nitrogen-N
• Responsible for vegetative growth in plant and its
dark green color.
• Deficiency symptoms are reduced growth and
yellowing of the leaves
• Yellowing is referred to as chlorosis
• Excess nitrogen can cause succulent growth that is
dark green, but the plants are often weak and
spindly.
8. Nitrogen (N) Deficiency
Symptoms
Yellowing of mature lower leaves-
nitrogen is highly mobile in plants
9. Phosphorus-P
• In nature, present as a rock and not easily leached
from soil.
• Important for growth of seedlings and young plants,
helps develop root systems
• Deficiency are reduced growth, poor roots systems,
and reduced flowering. Thin stems and browning or
purpling of the foliage are signs of poor phosphorus.
10. Lack of essential nutrients
exhibit specific symptoms
dependent on
Nutrient deficiencies function of nutrient
dependent on
solubility of nutrient
11. Potassium-K
• Mined as a rock and made into fertilizer, but it can
be leached from the soil.
• If too much is present it can cause a nitrogen
deficiency.
• Lack of potassium appears as reduced growth,
shortened internodes, and sometimes as a marginal
burn or scorch (brown leaf edges).
• Sometimes dead spots in the leaf and plants that wilt
easily are also indications.
13. Calcium-Ca
• Often supplied by adding lime to soil. It can be
leached out but does not move easily throughout the
plant.
• Too much can cause a high pH and reduce the
availability of other elements to the plant.
• A lack of this element can stop bud growth and
result in death of root tips, cupping of mature leaves,
and blossom end rot of fruits.
15. Blossom End Rot of Tomato
Calcium Deficiency
Left-Hydroponic tomatoes grown in the greenhouse,
Right-Blossom end rot of tomato fruits induced by calcium
(Ca++) deficiency
16. Magnesium-Mg
• Magnesium can be added and leached from the soil.
• If lacking, reduction of growth and chlorosis can be
noticed. In some plants, interveinal chlorosis can be
seen. Cupped leaves and reduction in seed
production can also be symptoms.
17. Magnesium deficiency
Take 2
fertilizer pellets
& call me in
the morning
Symptoms
chlorosis = yellowing of leaves
28. • There are approximately 450 varieties of
insectivorous plants.
• They have leaves designed to catch and digest
insects.
• These plants do not obtain energy from the
insects they digest; they all contain chlorophyll
and produce their own sugars.
• Most of them live in soils which lack usable
nitrogen. Insectivorous plants obtain nitrogen
from digested insects.
