Introduction
The study of the chemical substances and elements required for plant metabolism, development, and reproduction is known to be plant nutrition. The element may be a necessary component of a plant ingredient or metabolite if the plant cannot complete a regular life cycle without it. This follows Justus von Liebig's principle of the minimal. Seventeen different elements happen to make up the whole list of required nutrients for plants, including nitrogen, which is normally taken from the soil. Exceptions include some of the parasitic or carnivorous plants. Carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen are received from the air.
These substances are absorbed by plants as ions because they remain in the soil as salts. The macronutrients are absorbed in greater amounts; on a dry matter weight basis, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen account for approximately 95% of a plant's total biomass. Plant tissue contains parts per million (ppm) levels of micronutrients that range from 0.1 to 200 ppm, or less than 0.02% dry weight. Do not forget to share your views at the Nutrition Write For Us category.
Function of Nutrition
It is recognised that at least 17 elements are crucial nutrition for plants. The macronutrients, also known as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur, are all provided by the soil in quite considerable proportions. The soil provides the so-called micronutrients iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper, zinc, chlorine, and cobalt in relatively modest quantities. The right ratios of nutrients must also be present, in addition to adequate levels.
Because different plants, even different species or individuals of the same clone, can vary greatly, plant nutrition is a topic that is challenging to fully comprehend. Low levels of some elements can result in deficiency symptoms, while high levels might cause toxicity. Additionally, signs of an elemental deficit or toxicity may appear in the opposite direction. A deficit of one nutrient may result from an excess of another. The availability of NH+ 4 can, for instance, affect K+ intake.
Importance of Phosphorus
Similar to nitrogen, phosphorus plays a key role in numerous essential plant activities. It is primarily found in plants as a structural component of the nucleic acids deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), as well as a component of fatty phospholipids, which are crucial for the formation and operation of membranes. Both its organic and inorganic forms are present, and both are easily transported throughout the plant. In the cell, phosphorus is crucial for all energy transfers. As with all living things, phosphorus is a component of ATP, which is immediately useful in all cellular functions that demand energy.
As with all living things, phosphorus is a component of ATP, which is immediately useful in all cellular functions that demand energy. In addition to being utilised for cell signalling, phosphorylation of certain enzymes can be employed to change their activity. Phosphorus is stored in seeds in preparation for germination and is concentrated at the parts of a plant that are growing the fastest.