This document provides information about mineral nutrition in plants. It discusses that plants require essential mineral nutrients obtained from the soil to survive and complete their life cycle. It categorizes the major essential mineral nutrients into macronutrients and micronutrients. The macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are described as primary macronutrients, while calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are secondary macronutrients. The document outlines the functions of each nutrient and deficiency symptoms that may occur when plants do not obtain sufficient amounts.

2. Name : Umesh Ramdas Phondekar
Reg.No.-ADPM/18/2608
Class: Jr. M.Sc.(Ag.)
Department: Plant Pathology

3. Mineral Nutrition in plants
• Plants are:
• Capable of making all necessary organic compounds
from inorganic compounds and elements in the
environment (autotrophic)
• Supplied with all the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
they could ever need (CO2, H2O)
• Required to obtain all other elements from the soil
so in a sense plants act as soil miners.

4. • “Mineral”: An inorganic element Acquired
mostly in the form of inorganic ions from the
Soil.
• “Nutrient”: A substance needed to survive or
necessary for the synthesis of organic
compounds

5.  Essentiality of mineral nutrients
 Essential:
Universal for all plants
• – Absence prevents completion of life cycle
• – Absence leads to deficiency
• – Required for some aspect of mineral nutrition
Beneficial
Often limited to a few species
• – Stimulates growth and development
• – May be required in some species
• – Examples: Na, Si, Se

6.  Major essential nutrients
• Essential nutrients –
• mineral nutrients that are crucial for plant growth
1. . C, H, O – absorbed as gases. Carbon and Oxygen from
atmospheric fixation in the photosynthetic reaction and
respiration. Hydrogen and Oxygen too, from water
hydrolysis.
2. N,P,K,Ca, Mg, S – Macro elements. Absorbed from soil
solution. Needed in high ratio, their concentration in tissue
is measured by percentages.
N,P,K – Major macro elements.
Ca, Mg, S – Secondary macro elements.

7. 3. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B - Micro elements. Absorbed from
soil solution needed in small quantities, their concentration
in tissue is measured in ppm.
4. B – have a very narrow range of efficiency and even slight
increase in concentration will cause damages (0.5 ppm in
soil solution)
5. Cl, Na – “Damaging nutrients”. Regularly existent in
sufficient quantity in soil and in arid areas even in excess.
The plant need small quantities from them and excess will
damage soil structure and plant tissue

8. Macronutrients
N – P - K

9.  Nitrogen-
 Is a major component of proteins, hormones,
chlorophyll, vitamins and enzymes essential for
plant life.
 Nitrogen metabolism is a major factor in stem
and leaf growth (vegetative growth).
 Excess applied quantity can delay flowering and
fruiting.
 Deficiencies can reduce yields, cause yellowing
of the leaves and stunt growth.

10. Function–
• Major ingredient in proteins, cell plasma and genetic
material in plants.
 Deficiency –
• damage to metabolism reactions, retention of growth
and cell elongation.

11. Nitrogen deficiency

12. Phosphorus
• Necessary for seed germination, photosynthesis, protein
formation and Almost all aspects of growth and
metabolism in plants.
• Essential for flower and fruit formation.
• Low pH (<4) results in phosphate being chemically locked
up in organic soils.
• Phosphorus must be applied close to the plant's roots.

13. Deficiency symptoms:
 Purple stems and leaves; maturity and growth
are retarded.
• Yields of fruit and flowers are poor
• Premature drop of fruits and flowers may often
occur
• Large applications of phosphorus without
adequate levels of zinc can cause a zinc deficiency.

14. Phosphorus Deficiency

15. Potassium
• Necessary for formation of sugars, starches,
carbohydrates, protein synthesis.
• Necessary for cell division in roots and other parts of the
plant, Helps to adjust water balance, improves stem
rigidity and cold hardiness.
• Enhances flavor and color on fruit and vegetable crops.
• Increases the oil content of fruits and is important for
leafy crops.
• Deficiencies result in low yields, mottled, spotted or
curled leaves, scorched or burned look to leaves.

16. Potassium Deficiency

17. Secondary Elements
Mg – Ca - S

18.  Sulfur
 Is a structural component of amino acids, proteins,
vitamins and enzymes.
 Is essential to produce chlorophyll. It imparts flavor to
many vegetables.
 Deficiencies show as light green leaves.
 Sulfur is readily lost by leaching from soils and should
be applied with a nutrient formula.
 Some water supplies may contain Sulfur.

19. Sulfur Deficiency

20. Magnesium
 Is a critical structural component of the chlorophyll
molecule.
 Is necessary for functioning of plant enzymes to
produce carbohydrates, sugars and fats.
 It is used for fruit and nut formation and essential for
germination of seeds.
 Deficient plants appear chlorotic, show yellowing
between veins of older leaves; leaves may droop.
 Magnesium is leached by watering and must be
supplied when feeding.
 It can be applied as a foliar spray to correct
deficiencies.

21. Magnesium Deficiency

22.  Calcium
 Activates enzymes, is a structural component of cell
walls.
 Influences water movement in cells and is necessary for
cell growth and division.
 Calcium is easily leached.
 Calcium, once deposited in plant tissue, is immobile
(nontranslocatable) so there must be a constant supply
for growth.
 Deficiency causes stunting of new growth in stems,
flowers and roots.
 Symptoms range from distorted new growth to black
spots on leaves and fruit. Yellow leaf margins may also
appear.

23. Calcium Deficiency

24. Micronutrients
Fe - Mn - B - Zn - Cu - Mo

25.  Iron
• Necessary for many enzyme functions and as a catalyst for
the synthesis of chlorophyll.
• Essential for the young growing parts of plants.
• Deficiencies are pale leaf color of young leaves followed by
yellowing of leaves and large veins.
• Iron is lost by leaching and is held in the lower portions of
the soil structure.
• Under conditions of high pH (alkaline) iron is rendered
unavailable to plants. When soils are alkaline, iron may be
abundant but unavailable.

26. Iron Deficiency

27.  Manganese
• Involves in enzyme activity for photosynthesis, respiration,
and nitrogen metabolism.
• Deficiency in young leaves may show a network of green
veins on a light green background similar to an iron
deficiency.
• In the advanced stages the light green parts become white,
and leaves are dropped.
• Brownish, black, or grayish spots may appear next to the
veins. In neutral or alkaline soils plants often show deficiency
symptoms.

28. Manganese Deficiency

29.  Copper
Copper is concentrated in roots of plants and plays a part
in nitrogen metabolism.
• A component of several enzymes and may be part of the
enzyme systems that use carbohydrates and proteins.
• Deficiencies cause die back of the shoot tips, and
terminal leaves develop brown spots.
• Copper is bound tightly in organic matter and may be
deficient in highly organic soils.
• It is not readily lost from soil but may often be
unavailable.

30. Copper Deficiency

31.  Molybdenum
• A structural component of the enzyme that reduces
nitrates to ammonia
• Without it, the synthesis of proteins is blocked and
plant growth stops
• Root nodule (nitrogen fixing) bacteria also require it
• Seeds may not form completely, and nitrogen deficiency
may occur if plants are lacking molybdenum
• Deficiency signs are pale green leaves with rolled or
cupped margins

32. Molybdenum Deficiency

33.  Zinc
Functions
 plant metabolism
 helps form growth hormones
 Reproduction
Deficiency symptoms
• retarded growth between nodes (rosetted)
• new leaves are thick and small
• spotted between veins, discolored veins

34. Zinc Deficiency

35. Boron
Functions
 affects water absorption by roots
 translocation of sugars
 Deficiency Symptoms
 short, thick stem tips
 young leaves of terminal buds are light green at base
 leaves become twisted and die

36. Boron Deficiency

37.  Chlorine
 Functions
• essential to some plant processes
• acts in enzyme systems
 Deficiency symptoms
• usually more problems with too much
chlorine or
• toxicity than with deficiency

38. Chlorine Deficiency

39. THANK YOU