Macronutrients in plants: Types, functions and more

Every element is necessary for plant growth. However, some are required in greater amounts and are referred to as macronutrients, while others are required in smaller or even minute quantities and are referred to as micronutrients. Understanding the functions of macro and micronutrients in plants is beneficial to gaining more knowledge about them and recognising their role. This article will discuss everything related to micro and macronutrients in plants.

Table of Contents

What are macronutrients in plants?

It’s important to remember that plants, like humans, are living creatures that need food to maintain their health and promote growth and development. Macronutrients are essential for plant growth and development because they give the plant the energy it needs to expand. The three most crucial are phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium since they shape plant development and the production of different plant components specifically. Furthermore, nitrogen is a key ingredient of chlorophyll, which in turn plays a crucial role in photosynthesis.

What are micronutrients in plants?

Micronutrients, often known as trace elements or minerals, are an additional group of nutrients that aid in development and metabolism but are needed in very minute quantities. Boron, iron, chlorine, manganese, copper, and nickel are examples of vital micronutrients.

What is the role of macronutrients in plants?

Both macronutrients and micronutrients found in plants are considered essential nutrients since they provide all of the metabolic support that plants need and, in their absence:

The life cycle of a plant is interrupted.
There are certain things that a plant needs that just can’t be replaced.
Each vital nutrient plays a critical role in plant nutrition; without them, plants cannot thrive.

The roles of macronutrients, such as carbon’s role in forming proteins, polysaccharides, nucleotides, and other chemicals or major plant macromolecules, are among the most critical of all the vital nutrients.

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Macronutrients in plants: Functions

Following are the functions performed by the three most important macronutrients in plants and also the consequences of their deficiencies.

Function of nitrogen in plants

Nitrogen is one of the most significant macronutrients, and it plays an essential role in the development of plants by serving in the following capacities:

It plays a crucial role in metabolism as an integral component of proteins, enzymes, and amino acids.
Affects the process of seed germination and plant development.
As a chlorophyll subunit, it is crucial to the process of photosynthesis.
Causes plants to flourish rapidly in terms of foliage.
Greens up the plant life.

Reduced crop yields may be caused by a lack of nitrogen, which causes plants to develop chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves) and become weak while fruiting and blooming.

A plant’s health may also suffer from an excess of nitrogen, which can lead to dark green leaf colour, excessive growth, harvest lodging, and worse fruit quality.

Function of phosphorus in plants

The development of healthy roots is critically dependent on phosphorus, which ranks as the second most essential macronutrient in plant life. The following are the functions that it fulfils.

Growth of roots.
Maintaining excellent blooming, blossoming, and seed production.
Storing and transferring energy.
Immunity against illness.

Plants suffering from phosphorus deficiency have reduced growth rates, weaker roots, shorter, thinner branches, and darker green, purple, or red leaves. The absorption of other nutrients, such as zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and boron, may be impaired by phosphorus overload.

Function of potassium in plants

The following are some of the roles that potassium plays in the process of plant development;

Affecting water intake.
Enhancing drought resistance
Enhancement of cold resistance
Providing resistance against insect and fungal infections.
Creating proteins, glucose, and fat via synthesis.

Reduced growth, leaf scorch or yellowing, and brown patches on older leaves are all symptoms of potassium deficiency in plants. Magnesium, nitrogen, and calcium absorption are all negatively impacted by consuming too much Potassium.

Function of sulphur in plants

The following are some of the roles that sulphur plays in the process of plant development:

Sulphur is a crucial component required for the synthesis of proteins, amino acids and oils, which are essential for the overall growth and functioning of plants.

Sulphur is necessary for the production of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll enables plants to convert sunlight into energy, promoting their growth and health.

Sulphur aids in encouraging nodulation in leguminous plants. Nodules are specialised structures on the roots of legumes that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enabling the plants to access nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into usable forms.

Sulphur plays a crucial role in the development and activation of specific enzymes and vitamins that are essential for various biochemical processes within the plant.

Sulphur acts as a structural element for two of the 21 amino acids that constitute proteins. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and sulphur contributes to their structural integrity and function.

Functions of micronutrients in plants

Micronutrients also play a significant part in plant development, and the roles that the most important micronutrients fulfil are outlined in the following paragraphs.

Function of boron in plants

Boron is the primary regulator of several processes that occur throughout a plant’s development and is responsible for the following functions.

Sugar shipment
Plant propagation
Amino acid production
Cell wall development
Fruiting
Flowering
Enhancement in crop quality

Hampered early crop growth, leaf distortion, growing point mortality, dark brown lesion development, insufficient blooming, and chlorosis (yellowing) of leaves are some of the indications of boron shortage in plants. Ideally, boron should be applied to crops just before they begin to bloom since doing so after this point has passed has no positive effects.

Function of iron in plants

The following are some of the roles that iron performs in plant growth and its critical significance in processes such as photosynthesis and others.

Chlorophyll synthesis
Photosynthesis
Enzyme composition
A factor that affects energy transmission, nitrogen release, and fixation.
Lignin synthesis

A lack of iron in plants causes the younger leaves to become yellow between the veins, which is harmful to the plant.

Function of manganese in plants

The following are some of the tasks that manganese plays throughout the development of plants, in addition to its important involvement in enzymes.

Has an effect on chloroplast production.
Taking part in the photosynthetic process actively.
Enzyme stimulation affects both seed germination and harvest time.

A lack of manganese may also cause chlorosis, which is characterised by the yellowing of the vasculature in the younger leaves.

Function of zinc in plants

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that is required for various crucial processes beginning in the early stages of development and continuing well into later activity.

Initial growth phases
The growth of roots, seeds, and fruit.
In the photosynthetic process.
Adjusting plant hormone levels.
The function of auxins

A lack of zinc causes the plant’s development to be inhibited, the length of the internodes to shorten, the young leaves to become smaller, and the lower leaves to become yellow.

Function of copper in plants

Copper serves several important functions in plants:

Copper is a vital structural component in many proteins found within plants.

Plastocyanin, a copper-containing protein, plays a crucial role in the electron transport chain of photosynthesis. It acts as an electron carrier, facilitating the process of photosynthesis in plants.

Copper is necessary for the respiration process in plants, enabling them to convert nutrients into energy.

Copper plays a key role in activating various enzymes that are essential for important biochemical reactions within the plant.

Copper also participates in the metabolism of cell walls, contributing to their formation and maintenance.

Signs of deficiency of micronutrients and macronutrients in plants

When plants don’t get enough macro- and micronutrients, they may face a variety of challenges, which include:

Slow and stunted plant growth
Chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves)
Necrosis (loss of tissue)
Premature falling if buds and leaves
Suppression of cell division
Delay in flowering

FAQs

Why do plants use macro and micronutrients?

Macronutrients and micronutrients come under the category of essential nutrients, which provide for all of a plant's biochemical requirements, without which a plant cannot finish its life cycle. Other components cannot perform a plant's specialised function.

What amount of macronutrients do plants require?

About twenty macronutrients and micronutrients are important for meeting all of a plant's metabolic requirements.

How do plants absorb nutrients?

Near the root's tip, where root hairs are abundant, absorption of nutrients occurs at a high rate. When it comes to water absorption, nothing beats the efficiency of root hairs, which are essentially ultrafine roots with a massive surface area. Almost all plants collaborate with mycorrhizal fungi to maximise their uptake of soil nutrients.

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