Types of Fertilizer
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Macronutrients:
There are six macronutrients, three of which are less widely available in the soil and are termed the three main macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), generally known as NPK. The rest of the macronutrients, which are widely available in the soil, are termed secondary macronutrients and are as follows: Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S).
Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen is integral to plant growth as it plays a fundamental role in energy metabolism and protein synthesis as it is the main component of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Nitrogen is essential for the formation of chlorophylls and, as a result, plays a direct role in plant photosynthesis. Nitrogen deficiency leads to stunted plant growth, leaf yellowing (chlorosis), and premature leaf drop.
Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus is critical for plant energy transfer as it is a key component of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), the molecule that stores and transfers energy in cells. It is also essential for root development, flowering, and overall plant vigor, helping plants resist adverse climatic conditions. Phosphorus deficiency can cause delayed flowering, purpling of leaves, and a general reduction in plant vigor.
Potassium (K)
Potassium is involved in plant water regulation, supports flowering, and is a critical element of plant enzyme activity as an enzyme activator. Potassium also increases plant resilience, enabling the plant to survive harsh, unfavorable environments and effectively resist fungal attacks. Potassium deficiency can manifest as yellowing of leaf edges (marginal chlorosis), followed by dark spots, resulting in the eventual reduced plant’s general resilience.
Calcium (Ca):
Calcium has a role in the creation and strengthening of cell walls. It reduces soil acidity by neutralizing organic acids, helps soil mineral retention, and increases the plant’s nutrient absorption volume, having an effect on nitrogen absorption. Calcium also participates in cell growth and development, increasing the plant’s disease resistance. Calcium deficiency can cause a defective root system, stunted growth, and localized tissue necrosis.
Magnesium (Mg):
Magnesium plays a crucial role in plant photosynthesis as it is one of the constituents of chlorophyll molecules, and this makes Magnesium an integral part of plant development and growth. It helps plants absorb and metabolize phosphorus and acts as the main enzyme activator, activating more enzymes than all other nutrients. Magnesium deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis as the tissue between veins turns yellow while the veins retain their green color; this condition occurs in older leaves.
Sulfur (S):
Sulfur is a structural component in synthesizing amino acids and vitamins and is vital for chloroplast growth and function, making it essential to photosynthesis. Sulfur is also required for the metabolization of nitrogen. In general, Sulfur also increases a plant’s defense against cold climates, increasing its survivability in winter. Sulfur deficiency usually causes plants to discolor from pale green to outright yellow, similar to nitrogen deficiency. Also, sulfur deficiency often causes stunted growth in plants, with their leaves remaining small and narrow.
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Micronutrients:
Plants require micronutrients in trace amounts but are still an integral part of plant growth and development, and a deficiency in any one of them may cause irreversible harm. They have a wide variety of functions, among them being plants’ structural integrity, vitamin production, increased yield, disease resistance, and quality and quantity of agricultural produce. Boron (B), Chlorine (Cl), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) are considered as the main micronutrients.
Boron (B):
Boron (B) is mainly found in soil and absorbed by plants as BO₃⁻³. It’s one of the most critical nutrients for the structural integrity of plant cell membranes and plays a vital role in their stability. Boron deficiency symptoms usually first appear at plant growing points.
Chlorine (Cl):
Plants absorb chlorine (Cl) as chloride (Cl-), which participates in and is necessary for plant energy reactions, osmosis, and ionic balance. Most chloride in soil comes from natural sources like salts, marine aerosols, and volcanic activity. Plants only require a minor amount of this micronutrient.
Copper (Cu):
Copper (Cu) helps activate enzymes necessary for proper photosynthesis and supports key plant growth processes. It also plays a significant role in Vitamin A and lignin manufacture and contributes to successful protein synthesis.
Iron (Fe):
Iron (Fe) is crucial for plant growth and food production, and it is absorbed by plants through the form of Fe²⁺. It’s a component of many enzymes related to energy transfer, nitrogen processing, and lignin formation.
Manganese (Mn):
Manganese (Mn) functions mainly as part of plant enzyme systems, activating critical metabolic reactions and playing a substantial part in photosynthesis. It speeds up germination and plant maturity by increasing phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) availability.
Molybdenum (Mo):
Molybdenum (Mo) is a trace element essential for synthesizing nitrate reductase, an essential component that facilitates plants’ use of nitrogen. Molybdenum is also vital for the fixation of nitrogen through Rhizobia bacteria in the legumes’ roots. Molybdenum deficiencies are generally rare in most agricultural settings.
Zinc (Zn):
Zinc (Zn) is absorbed by plants in small amounts as Zn⁺². It was one of the first nutrients found to be essential for plants and is often a limiting factor in crop yields. It plays a crucial role in DNA transcription. Even though only a trace amount is required, plants can’t grow properly with zinc deficiency, which may cause the stunted growth of leaves.
Nickel (Ni):
Nickel (Ni) is one of the newer nutrients recognized as essential for plants. Nicked is crucial in the activation of the urease enzyme, which helps with nitrogen metabolism by breaking down urea. Deficiency of nickel can cause necrotic lesions as the toxicity levels of urea accumulate. Plants require only a trace amount of nickel, around 1.1 ppm.