Essential plant nutrients and their functions.

1. SEMINAR
ON
ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS AND THEIR
FUNCTIONS
SAM HIGGINBOTTOM UNIVERSITY OFAGRICULTURE
TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES
WARNER COLLEGE OF DAIRYTECHNOLOGY
Advisor:
Dr. (Er) Parimita
Assistant Professor
WCDT, SHUATS
Submitted by:
Deepak
17BSFTH037
B.Sc(Hons) Food Technology

2. Contents
 Introduction
 Criteria of essentiality of nutrients
 Classification of essential plant nutrients
 Functions
 Reference

3. Introduction
• Plants take up essential elements from the soil
through their roots and from the air.
• Soil is major source of essential plant nutrients
needed by plants for growth and reproduction.
• Plants need 17 elements to produce maximum yields
and quality.
• The 3 main nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium together they make trio Known as NPK.

4. Criteria of essentiality of nutrients
 This concept was propounded by Arnon and Stout (1939)
and they considered 16 elements essential for plant
nutrition.
1. A plant cannot complete its life-cycle in the absense of the
element.
2. The action of the element must be specific, with no other
element being able to completely substitute for it.
3. The element must be shown to be directly involved in the
nutrition of the plant.

5. Classification of essential plant nutrients
The essential plant nutrients classified on the basis
of amount required are two types:
A. Macro or Major Nutrients: They are the nutrients
utilized by the plants in relatively large amounts. These
are nine in number:
• Carbon (C)
• Hydrogen (H)
• Oxygen (O)
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulphur (S)

6. Classification of essential plant nutrients
Macro nutrients have 3 categories
a) Basic elements: These constitutes 96% of total dry matter of plant:
• Carbon (C)
• Hydrogen (H)
• Oxygen (O)
b) Primary elements: Are those usually required in the largest amount:
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
c) Secondary elements: Are those usually needed in moderate amount
compared to primary elements:
• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulphur (S)
From
air/water
From
soils
From
soils

7. Classification of essential plant nutrients
B. Micro nutrients: These nutrients required by plants in small
quantities and also known as trace or minor elements.
These are eight in number:
• Manganese (Mn)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Iron (Fe)
• Copper (Cu)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Boron (B)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Nickel (Ni)

8. Functions of Carbon
a) Important role in photosynthesis by carbon cycle
b) Basic molecular components of carbohydrates,
proteins, lipids and nucleic acid.
c) Carbon forms the proteins, starches and cellulose
d) Important role in nutrients absorption
e) Carbon is the primary energy source and building
block for plant tissues.

9. Functions of Hydrogen
a) Hydrogen is necessary for building sugars and
other molecules to produce glucose for plant energy
b) Important in photosynthesis- Nearly all organic
compounds also contain H atoms

10. Functions of Oxygen
a) It is responsible for cellular respiration in plants.
b) Plays a critical role in photosynthesis and
respiration
c) Plays a important role in nutrients absorption
d) Plants acquire O by breaking down carbon dioxide
(CO₂) during photosynthesis

11. Functions of Nitrogen
a) Increasing growth and development of all living
tissue.
b) Increasing germination of crops.
c) Important in protein production
d) It increase utilization of Phosphorus and
Potassium
e) Improves the quality of green leafy vegetables

12. Function of Phosphorus
a) It promote to root formation and growth.
b) Improve the quality of fruits .
c) Involved in photosynthesis, respiration and cell
division
d) Seed formation and early maturity

13. Functions of Potassium
a) It increasing in resistant in plants against moisture
stress, heat, frost and disease.
b) Improves the crop quality.
c) Formation and translocation of sugars
d) It plays a role in osmoregulation of water and other
salts in plant tissues and cells.
e) Increases photosynthesis

14. Functions of Calcium
a) It increasing availability of molybdenum.
b) Improves plant vigor
c) Influences intake and synthesis of other plant
nutrients
d) Important part of cell walls
e) Increases nodulation in legumes

15. Functions of Magnesium
a) Key element of chlorophyll production
b) Help in the photosynthesis of the plants
c) Influences the intake of other essential nutrients.
d) It facilitates translocation of carbohydrates and
enhances the production of oils and fats.
e) Assists in translocation of phosphorus and fats

16. Functions of Sulphur
a) Promotes root growth and vigorous vegetative
growth
b) Essential to protein formation
c) Synthesis of glucosides in mustard oils.
d) Promote to nodule formation.
e) Helps develop enzymes and protein
f) Improves the oil quality of oilseeds

17. Functions of Iron
a) A key role in nitrogen fixation.
b) Help in the photosynthesis.
c) Formation of chlorophyll
d) Essential for chlorophyll production
e) Helps carry electrons to mix oxygen with other
elements
f) Acts as a enzyme activator
g) Reactions involving cell division and growth

18. Functions of Copper
a) Indirect role in Chlorophyll formation
b) Electron transport from chlorophyll.
c) Improves flavor in fruits and vegetables
d) Helps respiration
e) Plays a major role in reproductive stage
f) Enhances the fertility of male flowers

19. Functions of Manganese
a) Aids in Chlorophyll synthesis.
b) Development of chloroplast.
c) Increase availability of P and Ca in plants.
d) Playing a key role in photosynthesis

20. Functions of Zinc
a) Role in photosynthesis.
b) Flower setting and proper development of fruits
c) Helps form growth hormones (Auxin etc)
d) Helps reproduction
e) Necessary or chlorophyll production
f) Aids in seed formation

21. Functions of Molybdenum
a) Synthesis of protein in the plants.
b) Help in nitrogen fixation by rhizobia.
c) Increasing in availability of P and S in soil.
d) Helps reproduction
e) Required in sweetness o carrot

22. Functions of Boron
a) Proper development of tissue.
b) Promotes maturity .
c) Essential for cell wall and seed formation
d) Affects water absorption by roots
e) Translocation of sugars

23. Functions of Chlorine
a) Essential for photosynthesis.
b) It is also function in osmo-regulation of plants
growing on saline soils.
c) Interferes with phosphorus uptake
d) Chlorine is abundance suppress the plant diseases

24. Functions of Nickel
a) It is important in iron metabolism in plants
b) Also play a vital role in Urea metabolism in plants
c) It is an essential nutrient for both monocotyledons
and dicotyledons for completion of plant life cycle

25. Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_nutrition
https://www.slideshare.net/BholeShankarPaikara/essential-plant-nutrientsppt
http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=7777
https://ocj.com/2012/12/hydrogens-role-in-crop-production/
https://www.slideshare.net/rnagar1900/essential-element
https://www.slideshare.net/Utkarshkt/essential-nutrientsfunctions-and-
deficiency-symptoms-manures-fertilizers-and-biofertilizers
https://www.slideshare.net/vigyanashram/plant-nutrients-its-role

26. Thank
You