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Nutrients

Nutrients are chemicals which are required by all plants. Nutrients exist naturally through the weathering of rocks or from the breakdown of organic matter in the soil. They can also be added via compost, manure and fertilisers. Nutrients are dissolved in the soil water and absorbed through the roots before being transported around the plant. Some Nutrients are required in large amounts, these are the major nutrients, others are only required in minute amounts and are known as trace elements or minor nutrients. Below we examine these nutrients in more detail.

Major Nutrients

Nutrient

Important for

Symptoms

Nitrogen

N

Vegetative growth particularly lawns and leaf crops

Slow spindly growth

Yellow leaves

Small fruit and flowers

Phosphorus

P

Root growth and ripening of fruit. Required for seeds to germinate

Slow growth

Dull leaves

Small, late fruit and flowers

Potassium

K

Good fruits and flowers

Poor quality fruit and seeds

Leaf scorch

Magnesium

Mg

Photosynthesis and the movement of Phosphorus

Early leaf fall

Calcium

Ca

Major constituent of cell walls

Dying tissue

Curling, pale young leaves

Sulphur

S

Synthesis of chlorophyll

Yellowing leaves

Minor Nutrients

Nutrient

Important for

Symptoms

Iron

Fe

Synthesis of chlorophyll

Yellowing leaves

Lack of fruit or flowers

Manganese

Mn

Synthesis of chlorophyll

Yellowing leaves

Boron

B

Makes calcium available to the plant

Misshapen leaves

Malformed fruit

Lack of flowering

Copper

Cu

Enzyme functioning

Twisted, withered leaves

Zinc

Zn

Enzyme functioning

Poor leaf development

Molybdenum

Mo

Helps uptake of nitrogen

Yellowing leaves