Plant nutrients & their importance for high value farming (Part - 2)

In the previous part I explained how the term “Essential element” changed to “Plant nutrients” with the time and how we explored the importance and existence of plant nutrients.

Now, I will explain the roles and importance of plant nutrients for high yield and healthy farming practices. There are total 17 nutrients which are required for plants to run their metabolism in which 3 nutrients plants take from air and rest 14 nutrients plant take from the soil and other fertilizer solutions. The roles of these nutrients are described below –

Macro-nutrients –

Nitrogen –

Plants take the Nitrogen from various fertilizers and air (Legumes get their N from atmosphere, water or rainfall). Nitrogen has very remarkable role in the plant growth. It is the part of chlorophyll which is the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis process in the plants. It is the necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy.

Phosphorus –

Phosphorus is also essential part of photosynthesis process. It is involved in sugar, starch and oil formation. Phosphorus as plant nutrient affects rapid growth of plants and helps in the transformation of solar energy in to chemical energy. It plays important role in plant maturation and withstanding stress. Phosphorus also induces blooming and root growth.

Potassium –

The presence of potassium is vital for plant growth because K is enzyme activator that promotes metabolism processes. K has been shown to improve disease resistance in the plants, improve the size of seeds and improve the quality of fruits and vegetables. K helps in regulating plant’s use of water by controlling the opening and closing of leaf stomates, where water is released to cool the plants.

Calcium –

Ca has major role in the formation of the cell wall membrane and its plasticity. Ca is activator of several enzyme systems in protein synthesis and carbohydrate transfer. Calcium is essential for see production in peanuts. Ca directly assists in improving crop yield by reducing soil acidity when soils are limed.

Magnesium –

Magnesium is major part of chlorophyll in all green plants which is essential for photosynthesis process.  It also helps activate several plant enzymes required for growth.

Sulfur –

Sulfur promotes activity and development of enzymes and vitamins, helps in chlorophyll formation, root growth, seed production, resistance to cold and production of proteins.