Why are nutrients important for plants? (Macronutrients)
Hi everyone! Welcome back to our lessons on CP Heaven's Learning lab.
Yesterday's lesson taught us about nutrient deficiencies and how we identify them. You must have been wondering why nutrients are important and how they contribute to the growth of plants. Worry not, in today's lesson, I'll walk you through the wonderful journey of nutrients in plants.
There are 2 main groups of nutrients. Macronutrients and Micronutrients.
Macronutrients are nutrients that plants largely require, and plants only require a much smaller number of Micronutrients in comparison. Below are the lists of macro and micronutrients.
Micronutrients
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Boron
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Chlorine
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Copper
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Iron
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Manganese
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Zinc
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Molybdenum
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Nickel
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Sodium
Macronutrients
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Nitrogen
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Phosphorus
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Potassium
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Calcium
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Magnesium
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Sulfur
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is an element in the periodic table.
And it's used as a block to build amino acid, and amino acid are used to build protein. Proteins are then used to join with other proteins for different functions.
This means that if a plant is short of nitrogen, it's no longer able to build more proteins, and that will result in no growth! Other processes like photosynthesis and respiration will also be affected!
Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
Phosphorus
P in the diagram below represent Phosphorus. When energy is gained from photosynthesis, ATP (the molecule in the chart that function like a battery) is gained and to create this molecule, Phosphorus is required as a building block. Without it, the plant will not be able to make ATP.
Without ATP, a molecule which function like a battery for the energy created though photosynthesis, the plant will not be able to store away it's hard-earned energy!
Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
Potassium
Unlike the other 2 elements mentioned above, Potassium isn't a building block that the plant use to build upon itself for growth. It's a form of regulating chemical. It regulates water and Carbon dioxide in plants.
In the diagram above, we can see that a stoma open and close during transpiration. This action of opening and closing requires Potassium and thus without this crucial element, plant cannot breathe properly.
Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
Calcium
We know that Calcium is important for us because we need it to keep our bones healthy and strong. 💪🏽
But do you know that plants also need calcium to keep their structure strong?
In the diagram above, we can see the Middle lamella. Middle lamella is made up of pectin to glue cells together to keep its structural shape. This pectin is made up of ammonium, sodium, potassium and calcium salts. Without calcium, the plant cannot keep its shape!
Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
Magnesium
Magnesium is an element which is necessary for photosynthesis. Let's have a look at the diagram below and see why that is true.
In the diagram above, we can see Magnesium (Mg) in the middle of the porphyrin ring. Porphyrin ring is the part where light is being absorb and transform carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugar.
Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
Sulfur
This element is required for plants to make Cysteine and Methionine. Cysteine is an amino acid containing sulfur created by the plant which is needed as a building block for creating essential biomolecules. Methionine is an amino acid that plays a role in metabolism in plant cells.
In the chemical equations above, we can see Sulfur is required for both of these essential amino acids. Without sulfur, the plant will not be able to convert the sugar that it had gained through photosynthesis into energy. Without energy, a plant will eventually die.
Cysteine
Methionine
That's all for today's lesson on Macronutrients! Our next lesson will be on Micronutrients. Stay tuned! 😊
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