Plant Nutrition
Floral Careers Plant Propagation
Non-fertilizer Nutrients
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Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O).
These elements are supplied to the plant in
the water and carbon dioxide it absorbs for
photosynthesis.
All 3 are essential, non-fertilizer
macroelements (or macronutrients).
Macroelements


Macroelements are elements required by
plants in relatively large quantities.
In addition to C, H, and O, 6 other elements
are recognized as macroelements.
Macroelements

They are:
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Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorous (P)
Potassium (K)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)
Microelements
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Microelements are elements needed by
plants in very small quantities.
Microelements are just as important as
macroelements.
Microelements

There are 8 essential microelements:
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Iron (Fe)
Copper (Cu)
Zinc (Zn)
Manganese (Mn)
Boron (B)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Chlorine (Cl)
Nickel (Ni)
The Essential Elements
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H) +
Oxygen (O)
6
+
Macroelements
8
Microelements
=
Essential
Elements
17
for
Plant
Growth
Deficiency Symptoms of the
Macroelements and Iron
Nitrogen Deficiency

General chlorosis
(yellowing) of the
leaves.
 Older leaves showing
symptoms first.
N deficiency in potato
Phosphorous Deficiency

Reduced plant size
 Darkened foliage with
a purplish cast.
P deficiency in corn
Potassium Deficiency

Margins eventually
turning brown.
 Symptoms develop on
lower leaves first.
K deficiency on red currant
Calcium Deficiency

Young leaves are
prominently malformed.
 Poor root development.
Ca deficiency on sugar
beet
Magnesium Deficiency

Interveinal chlorosis.
 Starts on the older
leaves and progresses
towards the top of the
plant.
Mg deficiency on grape
Sulfur Deficiency

A chlorosis develops which affects the entire
plant except the very tip.
 Symptoms similar to a nitrogen deficiency.
Iron Deficiency

Interveinal chlorosis
developing on the
youngest leaves first.
 Damage confined to
the upper regions of
the plant.
Fe deficiency on cherry
The End