Animals take in food and convert it to energy. Plants, on the other hand, take in energy and convert it to food.
The ability of plants to make their own food marks one of the profound differences between life forms on our planet. However, in order to make food, plants need certain elements. These elements can be divided into two groups: macro- and micronutrients. Plants need them in varying amounts.
Macronutrients
- Nitrogen (N):All living things contain nitrogen. It is an essential part of all proteins, enzymes and any process in living tissue that carries on the job of synthesizing and transferring energy. In plants, nitrogen is part of chlorophyll. That’s what makes plants green, and what creates photosynthesis. Nitrogen also helps produce fast plant growth, helps increase seed production and improves the quality of plants. Since nitrogen is a very unstable element and has an innate tendency to return to its gaseous state, plants get most of their nitrogen from the air.
- Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus is also essential to photosynthesis. It is necessary in the formation of sugars, starches and oils. It helps plants withstand stress, in rapid growth of plants and promotes root growth and blooming. It is found in bone meal
- Potassium (K): Second only to nitrogen in the amounts needed and taken in by plants, potassium helps plants in photosynthesis, the quality of fruits and seeds, and makes the plant more resistant to diseases. Plants absorb potassium through the root systems. It is found naturally in soil and in organic materials.
- Calcium (Ca) Calcium is necessary for plants to build and maintain the structure of cell walls. It helps to transport and to retain other elements. Calcium contributes to the overall strength of a plant. Again, organic sources of calcium are composted egg shells, oyster shell flour, dolomitic lime, gypsum.
- Magnesium (Mg) Also necessary for photosynthesis. It helps activate plant growth enzymes. Magnesium can be mined (magnesite, dolomite) and in certain mineral waters. It is the essential element in Epsom salts.
- Sulfur (S) Sulfur is necessary for the production of protein. It helps promote development of plant vitamins and enzymes and assists in the production of chlorophyll. It also helps plants resist cold Sculpture exists in rainwater. Gypsum also increase sulfur levels.
Micronutrients
- Boron (B): Boron helps plants metabolize and use other nutrients. It helps in the production of plant sugars and carbohydrates and is necessary for development of seeds and fruit. Boron is found in organic matter and in borax.
- Copper (Cu): Copper helps plants roots to metabolize nutrients, helps plants use the proteins they have manufactured and is also important for plant reproduction. It can be found in soil and in copper sulphate, also known as bluestone.
- Chloride (Cl): It helps in plant metabolism and is found in soil.
- Iron (Fe):Necessary for chlorophyll formation. Found in the soil and in iron chelate, which is a manufactured enzyme.
- Manganese (Mn): Helps breakdown of carbohydrates and also helps metabolize nitrogen. It is found in soil.
- Molybdenum (Mo): Helps plant utilize nitrogen. Soil is the main source of molybdenum.
- Zinc (Zn): Necessary for metabolism of carbohydrates. It regulates the plant’s sugar consumption. An essential part of plant enzymes system regulating growth. Zinc occurs naturally in the soil.
The copyright of the article Plants Need Nutrients in Desert/Water-wise Gardens is owned by Robert Dailey. Permission to republish Plants Need Nutrients in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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