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What is plant nutrients
These are elements required for proper plant growth and develpment.These elements are absorbed by plant roots in an ionic form which may be positively charged like NH4+,Ca2+ or negatively charged like CL–,NO3–etc.
Categories of plant nutrients.
Plant nutrients are divided into two major groups namely;
Major/macro/Essential plant nutrients
Minor/micro/trace elements
Macro Plant Nutrients
These are elements required by plants in large quantities(amounts) and if they are missing,the plants suffer serious effects
Micro Plant Nutrients
These are plant nutrients required by plants in very small quantities but should be present to enable plants grow well.
Examples of macro plant nutrients
- Hydrogen
- Carbon
- Oxygen
From soil
- Nitrogen
- phosphorous
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sulphur
Examples of Micro plant Nutrients
- Iron
- Manganese
- boron
- Molybdenum
- Zinc
- Chlorine
- Copper
- Cobalt
SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL
From the soil solutions e.g nitrogen,phosphorous etc
From already decomposed materials
From chemical or inorganic fertilizers e.g sulphate of ammonia
From organic manure such as FYM,Compost etc
From exchangeable ions