Role of Micro and Macro Nutrients in Plants
Like other organisms, plants also require some elements for their growth. These elements are called nutrients. There are six macro nutrients and seven micro nutrients. Apart from this, water and air provides Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen.
Nutrient | Absorbed as | Role |
---|---|---|
Nitrogen | NO₂⁻,NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ | Required by all metabolically active cells and meristematic tissues. |
Phosphorus | H₂PO₄⁻ or HPO₄²⁻ | Constitutes cell membranes, protenins, all nucleic acids and nucleotides, Required for ATP formpation. |
Potassium | K⁺ | Required in abundance by meristematic tissues, buds, leaves, root tips etc. Maintains anion-cation balance in cells.Involved in opening and closing of stomata and maintains turgidity of cells. |
Calcium | Ca²⁺ | Meristematic and differentiating tissues. Formation of mitotic spindle, activates
enzymes, Synthesis of middle lamella (Capectate) of cell wall during cell division |