Reference No.: 63
Title: Plant Nutrients Explained - Everything You Ever Need To Know
Author: Kevin Espiritu
Primary Topic: Farming
Year: 2017
URL: https://www.epicgardening.com/plant-nutrients/
My notes on this reference #
Fertilizer Basics
- Fertilizer is essential for plant growth and contains key nutrients.
- The “N–P–K” on fertilizer bags refers to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium percentages.
- Fertilizers like 10–10–10 or 30–0–0 indicate different nutrient compositions and applications.
Primary Nutrients
Nitrogen (N)
- Promotes vigorous growth, dark green leaves, and photosynthesis.
- Vital for leafy crops, grasses, and lawns; requires fertilizers with a high first number in N–P–K.
Phosphorus (P)
- Essential for root growth, blooming flowers, and ripening fruits.
- Key for perennials, bulbs, trees, and shrubs; fertilizers often have a larger second number for these plants.
Potassium (K)
- Enhances overall plant health, resistance to stress, and disease resilience.
- Often lower in fertilizer formulations unless the soil is potassium-deficient.
Secondary Nutrients
Calcium (Ca)
- Supports root and shoot growth and strengthens cell walls.
- Deficiency causes withered or deformed new growth.
Magnesium (Mg)
- Regulates nutrient uptake, supports chlorophyll production, and aids photosynthesis.
- Deficiency symptoms include yellowing between veins and reddish-purple leaves.
Sulfur (S)
- Contributes to chlorophyll synthesis, enzyme formation, and soil conditioning.
- Deficiencies are rare but reduce plant vitality and flavor in crops like onions and garlic.
Trace Elements
Boron (B)
- Vital for cell development, metabolism, and reproductive functions in plants.
- Deficiencies affect seed development and cause deformities.
Chlorine (Cl)
- Supports photosynthesis and gas exchange.
- Deficiency inhibits plant health and photosynthesis.
Copper (Cu)
- Aids in chlorophyll formation and enzyme activation.
- Deficiency results in stunted growth, chlorosis, and leaf deformities.
Iron (Fe)
- Essential for chlorophyll production and metabolic processes.
- Deficiency causes leaf chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).
Manganese (Mn)
- Necessary for photosynthesis and chlorophyll production.
- Deficiency appears first in young leaves, causing yellowing and chlorosis.
Molybdenum (Mo)
- Helps plants utilize nitrogen and supports nitrogen fixation in legumes.
- Deficiency leads to stunted growth and scorched leaf edges.
Zinc (Zn)
- Essential for chlorophyll synthesis and enzyme development.
- Deficiency causes chlorosis, starting at the base of leaves, and stunted growth.
Soil Testing and Fertilization
- Soil tests identify nutrient deficiencies and guide fertilizer application.
- Collect representative soil samples and send them to a trusted lab for analysis.
- Follow recommendations precisely and apply nutrients early in the growing season.
Comprehensive Fertilization
- Use fertilizers containing primary, secondary, and trace elements for optimal growth.
- Avoid relying solely on N–P–K fertilizers to ensure balanced nutrition.