Soil Nutrients

There are 17 essential nutrients that are required for plant growth. They broken down by how much plants take in. Plants need certain nutrients in large quantities, and these are categorized as macronutrients. Other nutrients are used in small quantities and are called micronutrients.

Macronutrients

The first set of Macronutrients are taken up by plants through Air and Water and thus are non-mineral essential elements. These elements include C, H and O. These nutrients make up 95% of the mass of the plant. While these are the most essential elements, they are not usually talked about by gardeners because they are not taken up through the soil solution.

The next set of macronutrients are called Primary Macronutrients. These include N, P, K. The percentage of these nutrients in bags of fertilizer are represented by the three numbers found on the bags separated by dashes. N affects the plant growth in terms of leaves. The primary atomic structure of Chlorophyl is made up of one Mg atom and 4 N atoms. This is why N is so important for the growth of leaves. P is the element that helps root growth and plant reproduction. It also helps with plant energy production. K is the element that helps the plant regulate transpiration during rainy and drought periods.

The secondary macronutrients are Mg, Ca, S. Mg is essential for the production of chlorophyl. Just as Ca promotes strong bones in animals, CA promotes strong cell structure in plants. S is used by plants for a variety of processes including Chlorophyl production, immune building and nutrient absorption.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are elements that plants use in lesser quantities. They include Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl and Ni. The need for these micronutrients is different for different plants. For example, acid loving plants like Blueberries and Azaleas tend to be Fe loving plants. The availability of Fe at lower pH levels are the reason for these plants being “Acid Loving.” Likewise, Strawberries need more B than other plants.