Explain with examples:
macronutrients, micronutrients, beneficial nutrients, toxic elements
and essential elements.
Explain with examples: macronutrients, micronutrients, beneficial nutrients, toxic elements and essential elements.
Macronutrients:
They are the nutrients required by
plants in large amounts. They are present in plant tissues in amounts
more than 10 mmole kg–1
of dry matter. Examples include hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Micronutrients:
They are also called trace elements and
are present in plant bodies in very small amounts, i.e., amounts less
than 10 mmole kg– 1
of dry matter. Examples include cobalt, manganese, zinc, etc.
Beneficial
nutrients: They are plant nutrients
that may not be essential, but are beneficial to plants. Sodium,
silicon, cobalt and selenium are beneficial to higher plants.
Toxic
elements: Micronutrients are required
by plants in small quantities. An excess of these nutrients may
induce toxicity in plants. For example, when manganese is present in
large amounts, it induces deficiencies of iron, magnesium, and
calcium by interfering with their metabolism.
Essential
elements: These elements are absolutely
necessary for plant growth and reproduction. The requirement of these
elements is specific and non-replaceable. They are further classified
as macro and micro-nutrients.
Macronutrients: They are the nutrients required by plants in large amounts. They are present in plant tissues in amounts more than 10 mmole kg–1 of dry matter. Examples include hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Micronutrients: They are also called trace elements and are present in plant bodies in very small amounts, i.e., amounts less than 10 mmole kg– 1 of dry matter. Examples include cobalt, manganese, zinc, etc.
Beneficial nutrients: They are plant nutrients that may not be essential, but are beneficial to plants. Sodium, silicon, cobalt and selenium are beneficial to higher plants.
Toxic elements: Micronutrients are required by plants in small quantities. An excess of these nutrients may induce toxicity in plants. For example, when manganese is present in large amounts, it induces deficiencies of iron, magnesium, and calcium by interfering with their metabolism.
Essential elements: These elements are absolutely necessary for plant growth and reproduction. The requirement of these elements is specific and non-replaceable. They are further classified as macro and micro-nutrients.
