Plant Nutrients
PRIMARY PLANT FOOD ELEMENTS |
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| ELEMENT | FUNCTION IN PLANT |
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS |
EXCESS SYMPTOMS |
BEST pH RANGE |
SOURCE |
| Nitrogen | Stimulates growth. | Light green to yellow leaves. Stunted growth. |
Dark green, soft grown. Retarded maturity. Loss of buds or fruit |
5.5-7.0 | Organics Synthetics Urea Ammonia Nitrates |
| Phosphorus | In enzymes hastens maturity. Aids respiration. Required in all cells. |
Red or purple leaves. Cell division retardation. |
Tie up of other essential elements. |
5.5-7.0 | Superphosphate |
| Potash | Translocation of materials in plants. Regulates photosynthesis. Regulates formation of starch. |
Reduced vigor. Susceptibility to diseases. Thin skin and small fruit. |
Coarse, poor colored fruit. Reduced absorption of Mg and Ca. |
5.5-7.0 | Sulphate of Potash |
SECONDARY PLANT FOOD ELEMENTS |
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| Magnesium | Aids photosynthesis. Key element in chlorophyl. |
Loss of yield. Chlorosis of old leaves. |
Reduced absorption of Ca and K. | 5.5-6.5 | Magnesium Sulphate Dolomite |
| Manganese | In enzyme system. | Mottled chlorosis of leaves. Stunted growth. | Small dead areas in the leaves with yellow borders around them. | 5.0-5.5 | Manganese Sulphate |
| Copper | Enzyme activator | Multiple budding. Gum pockets. |
Prevents the uptake of Iron. Causing stunting of roots. |
5.5-6.5 | Copper Sulphate Neutral Copper |
MICRO ELEMENTS |
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| Zinc | Aids in cell division. In enzymes and auxins |
Small, thin, yellow leaves. Low yields. |
None known. | 5.0-5.5 | Zinc Sulphate |
| Iron | A catalyst. In the enzyme system. Hemoglobin in legumes. | Yellowing of leaves, the veins remaining green. | None known. | 5.5-6.0 | Iron sulphate Chelated Iron |
| Sulphur | Helps to build proteins. | Looks like Nitrogen deficiency. | Sulpher burn from too low pH. | 5.5-8.0 | Sulpher Superphosphate |
| Calcium | Part of cell walls. Part of enzymes. |
Stops growing point of plants. | Reduces the intake of K and Mg. | 5.5-8.0 | Lime Gypsum |
| Molybderium | Helps in the utilization of N. | Symptoms in plants vary greatly. | 6.5-8.0 | Sodium Molybdate | |
| Boron | Affects absorption of other elements. Affects germination of pollen tube. |
Small leaves, corkiness. Multiple buds. | Leaves turn yellowish red. | 5.5-6.5 | Borax |
ELEMENTS FROM AIR AND WATER |
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| Carbon | Keystone of all organic substances | None known. | None known. | Air. | |
| Oxygen | Respiration | White areas of leaf veins High Nitrates. | None known. | Air and Water. | |
| Hydrogen | Necessary in all plant functions. | Wilting | Drowning. | Water | |